











THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 



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THE SWISS FAMILY 
ROBINSON 


Originally Written in German by 
Johann Rudolf Wyss (1781-1830) 


RETOLD FOR AMERICAN BOYS AND GIRLS 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY E. M. BENDOVNA 




NEW YORK 

A. S. BARNES & COMPANY 
1907 



LIBBARY of G0N6RESS 
Two CoDles Received 

MAf^ 8 190/ 

n Copyriffiit Entry 
O/rv X/. 

^SS A XXCm N(/. 

(r, l£-0 L 

COPY B. 


Copyright, 1907, by 
A. S. BARNES & COMPANY 
AU rights reMrved 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

“All being ready, we cast off and moved away from 

the wreck.” ....... 5 

“I drew up the ladder and we retired for the night.” 28 

“ He arose with a bound and attempted to dash forward.” 80 







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4 


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PUBLISHER’S PREFACE. 


In 1913 ‘‘The Swiss Family Robinson” will be one 
hundred years old. The gentle Swiss teacher who wrote 
this classic story lived to see it translated into twenty-four 
different languages. He never dreamed of such success. 
As a professor of the academy in his native town of Berlin 
he had taken delight in weaving into a story many inter- 
esting and useful lessons for the instruction of the young. 
The pleasure boys and girls found in “Robinson Crusoe” 
gave him the hint. His story has become a classic which 
in popularity has outrun even Defoe’s master work. Several 
generations of young people have prized it as a favorite 
and the interest in it is as keen as ever. 

The present edition was prepared by a teacher who has 
had many years of experience with young Americans and 
who is skilled in the art of telling stories. The original 
text has been carefully revised. All the best editions 
published in the English language have been consulted. 
We feel confident that in its present form the story will 
more deeply appeal to the young people of to-day than any 
other edition now on the market. It is especially adapted 
for the purpose of supplementary reading in the schools. 
The illustrations by Miss Bendovna add much to the pleasure 
boys and girls will find in this book. 

A. S. Barnes & Company. 

New York City, 1907. 



The Swiss Family Robinson 

CHAPTER I. 

W E had been tempest-tossed for many days. Six 
times the darkness had closed over a wild and 
terrific scene, and returning light as often brought 
but renewed distress. The raging storm had increased in 
fury, until on the seventh day all hope was lost. The 
riven masts had gone by the board, leaks had been sprung 
in every direction, and the water, which rushed in, gained 
upon us rapidly. 

Instead of reckless oaths, the seamen now uttered frantic 
cries to God for mercy, mingled with strange and often 
ludicrous vows, to be performed should they be delivered 
from death. 

Amid the roar of the thundering waves I suddenly heard 
the cry of “Land, land!’’ At the same instant the ship 
struck with a frightful shock, which threw everyone to the 
deck, and seemed to threaten her immediate destruction. 

Then the voice of the captain was heard above the tu- 
mult, shouting, “Lower away the boats! We are lost!” 

“Lost!” I exclaimed, and the word went like a dagger 
to my heart. When I saw my children’s terror, I quickly 

i 


2 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


composed myself, and called out cheerfully, ‘^Take cour- 
age, my boys! we are all above water yet. There is the 
land not far off; let us do our best to reach it. You know 
God helps those that help themselves!’’ With that, I left 
them and went on deck. What was my horror when through 
the foam and spray I beheld the only remaining boat leave 
the ship, the last of the seamen spring into her and push 
off*, regardless of my cries and entreaties that we might be 
allowed to share their slender chance of preserving their 
lives. My voice was drowned in the howling of the blast; 
and even had the crew wished it, the return of the boat was 
impossible. 

As I cast my eyes despairingly around, I became gradu- 
ally aware that our position was by no means hopeless, 
inasmuch as the stern of the ship containing our cabin was 
jammed between two high rocks, and was partly raised 
from among the breakers which dashed the forepart to 
pieces. As the clouds of mist and rain drove past, I could 
make out, through rents in the vaporous curtain, a line of 
rocky coast and, rugged as it was, my heart bounded toward 
it as a sign of help in the hour of need. 

Night drew on apace. The storm was as fierce as ever. 
At intervals we were startled by crashes announcing further 
damage to our unfortunate ship. Throughout the night 
my wife and I maintained our prayerful watch, dread- 
ing at every fresh sound some fatal change in the position 
of the wreck. 

At length the faint dawn of day appeared. The long 
weary night was over. With thankful hearts we perceived 
that the gale had begun to moderate. Blue sky was above 
us, and the lovely hues of sunrise adorned the eastern hori- 
zon. 

I aroused the boys, and we assembled on the remaining 
portion of the deck. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


3 


‘‘The sea will soon be calm enough for swimming/* 
said my eldest son, Fritz. 

“That would be well enough for you/* exclaimed Ernest, 
“but think of mother and the rest of us! Why net build a 
raft and all get on shore together?** 

“Can*t we each get into a big tub and float there?** 
suggested Jack. “I have often sailed splendidly like that 
round the pond at home/* 

“My child, you have hit on a capital idea/* said I. “Now, 
Ernest, let me have your tools, nails, saws, augers, and all; 
and then make haste to collect any tubs you can find!** 

We very soon found four large casks, made of sound 
wood, and strongly bound with iron hoops; they were 
floating with many other things in the water in the hold, 
but we managed to fish them out, and drag them to a suit- 
able place for launching them. They were exactly what 
I wanted, and I succeeded in sawing them across the 
middle. 

My eight tubs now stood ranged in a row near the water*s 
edge. Next I procured a long, thin plank, on which my 
tubs could be fixed. The two ends of this I bent upward 
so as to form a keel. Two other planks were nailed along 
the sides of the tubs. As these were also flexible, they were 
brought to a point at each end, and all firmly secured and 
nailed together. I felt satisfied that in smooth water 
this craft would be perfectly trustworthy. 

I now made fast a long rope to the stern of our boat, at- 
taching the other end to a beam. Then placing rollers 
under it, we began to push, and soon our gallant craft was 
safely launched. So swiftly, indeed, did she glide into the 
water, that, but for the rope, she would have passed be- 
yond our reach. The boys wished to jump in directly. 
But something more was required to make her perfectly 
safe. So I contrived out-riggers to preserve the balance, 


4 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


by nailing long ropes across at the stem and stern, and fix- 
ing empty casks at the ends of each. 

I persuaded my wife (not without considerable diffi- 
culty) to put on a sailor’s suit, assuring her that she would 
find it much more comfortable and convenient for all she 
would have to go through. 

With a hearty prayer for God’s blessing, we now began 
to take our seats, each in his tub. Just then we heard the 
cocks begin to crow, as though to reproach us for deserting 
them. “Why should not the fowls go with us!” exclaimed 
I. “If we find no food for them, they can be food for us!” 
Ten hens and a couple of cocks were accordingly placed in 
one of the tubs, and secured with some wire-netting over 
them. 

All being ready, we cast off, and moved away from the 
wreck. My good brave wife sat in the first compartment 
of the boat; next her was Franz, a pretty little boy, nearly 
eight years old. Then came our bold but thoughtless 
Jack. Next came Ernest, my second son, intelligent, 
well-formed, and rather indolent. I myself, the anxious, 
loving father, stood in the stern, endeavoring to guide the 
raft with its precious burden to a safe landing-place. 

The elder boys took the oars; everyone wore a float 
belt, and had something useful close to him in case of being 
thrown into the water. 

We had left two dogs, Turk and Juno, on the wreck. 
They were both large mastiffs, and we did not care to have 
their additional weight on board our craft. When they 
saw us apparently deserting them, they set up a piteous 
howl and sprang into the sea. They followed us, and, oc- 
casionally resting their forepaws on the out-riggers, kept 
up with us very well. 

By-and-by we began to perceive that, between and be- 
yond the cliffs, there were trees and green grass. By means 



All being ready, we cast off and moved away from the wreck. 


5 





6 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


of a glass I made out that at some distance to the left the 
coast was inviting. A strong current, however, carried us 
directly towards frowning rocks. Presently I observed an 
opening, where a stream flowed into the sea. I steered into 
the creek, and we found ourselves in a small bay or inlet, 
where the water was perfectly smooth and of moderate 
depth. The ground sloped gently upward from the low 
banks to the cliff's, leaving a small plain, on which it was 
easy for us to land. 

As soon as we could gather our children around us on dry 
land, we knelt to offer thanks and praise for our merciful 
escape, and with full hearts we commended ourselves to 
God’s good keeping for the time to come. 

All hands then briskly fell to the work of unloading, 
and oh, how rich we felt ourselves as we did so! The poul- 
try we left at liberty to forage for themselves, and set about 
finding a suitable place to erect a tent in which to pass the 
night. This we speedily did. We thrust a long spar 
into a hole in the rock, and supporting the other end by a 
pole firmly planted in the ground, we formed a frame- 
work, over which we stretched the sailcloth we had brought. 
Besides fastening this down with pegs, we placed our heavy 
chest and boxes on the border of the canvas, and arranged 
hooks so as to be able to close up the entrance during the night. 

When this was accomplished the boys ran to collect 
moss and grass, to spread in the tent for our bed, while I 
arranged a fireplace with some large flat stones. Dry twigs 
and seaweed were soon in a blaze on the hearth; I filled 
our iron pot with water, and giving my wife several cans 
of condensed soup, she established herself as our cook, 
with little Franz to help her. 

Fritz meanwhile cleaned and loaded our two guns; Er- 
nest sauntered down to the beach, and Jack scrambled 
among the rocks, searching for shellfish. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


7 


Presently Jack ran triumphantly toward the tent. '‘Mother 
mother! a lobster, Ernest! look here, Franz! mind, he’ll 
bite you!” All came crowding round Jack and his prize, 
wondering at its unusual size. 

“ I, too, found something very good to eat,” said Ernest, 
*'only I could not get at them without wetting my feet. 
They were oysters, not mussels.” 

“Be good enough, my philosophical young friend, to 
fetch a few of these oysters in time for our next meal,” 
said I; “we must all exert ourselves, Ernest, for the common 
good. Now please never let me hear you object to wetting 
your feet. See how quickly the sun has dried Jack and 
me.” 

“I can bring some salt at the same time,” said Ernest, 
‘T remarked a good deal lying in the crevices of the rocks. 
I concluded it was produced by the evaporation of sea- 
water in the sun.” 

“Extremely probable, learned sir,” cried I; “but if you 
had brought a bagful of this good salt instead of merely 
speculating so profoundly on the subject, it would have 
been more to the purpose. Run and fetch some directly.” 

It proved to be salt, sure enough, although so impure 
that it seemed useless, till my wife dissolved and strained 
it, when it became fit to put in the soup 

“How are we to eat our soup?” I asked; “we have 
neither plates nor spoons, and we can scarcely lift the 
boiling pot to our mouths.” 

“Oh, for a few cocoanut-shells!” sighed Ernest. 

“Oh, for a half-a-dozen plates and as many silver spoons!” 
rejoined I, smiling. “Off with you, my boys; get the 
oysters, and clean out a few shells.” 

Jack was away and up to his knees in the water in a 
moment, detaching the oysters. Ernest followed more 
leisurely, and, still unwilling to wet his feet, stood by the 


8 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


margin of the pool and gathered in his handkerchief the 
oysters his brother threw him. 

Our spoons were now ready, and we gathered round the 
pot and dipped them in, not, however, without sundry 
scalded fingers. When dinner was over, the poultry, 
which had been straying to some little distance, gathered 
round us, and began to pick up the crumbs of biscuit which 
had fallen during our repast. My wife hereupon drew 
from a large mysterious bag which she had brought with 
her, some handfuls of oats, peas, and other grain, and with 
them began to feed the poultry. At the same time she 
showed me seeds of various vegetables. 

“That was very thoughtful of you, my dear,’’ said I; 
“but pray be careful of what will be of such value to us. 
We can bring plenty of damaged biscuits from the wreck, 
which will suit the fowls very well indeed.” 

By this time the sun was sinking beneath the horizon. 
The pigeons flew up to the crevices in rocks, the fowls 
perched themselves on our tent-pole, and the ducks and 
geese waddled off, cackling and quacking, to the marshy 
margin of the river. We, too, were ready for repose, and 
having loaded our guns and offered up our prayers to 
God, we commended ourselves to His protecting care, 
and closed our tent, and lay down to rest. 


CHAPTER 11. 

T he voice of our vigilant cook roused me at daybreak, 
and I then awaked my wife, that in the quiet interval 
while yet our children slept, we might take counsel 
together on our situation and prospects. It was plain to both 
of us that we should ascertain, if possible, the fate of our late 
companions, and then examine into the nature and re- 
sources of the country on which we were stranded. 

As soon as we had breakfasted Fritz and I started on an 
expedition, while my wife remained near our landing- 
place with the three younger boys. 

We found that the banks of the stream were on both 
sides so rocky that we could get down to the water by only 
one narrow passage. There was no corresponding path 
on the other side. Fritz and I pursued our way up the 
stream until we reached a point where the waters fell from 
a considerable height in a cascade, and where several large 
rocks lay half covered by the water; by means of these we 
succeeded in crossing the stream in safety. We thus had 
the sea on our left, and a long line of rocky heights, here 
and there adorned with clumps of trees, stretching away in- 
land to the right. From this point we again turned to the 
open seashore. Here the scene which presented itself was 
delightful. A background of hills, the green waving grass, 
the pleasant groups of trees stretching here and there to the 

9 


10 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


very water’s edge, formed a lovely prospect. On the smooth 
sand we searched carefully for any trace of our hapless com- 
panions, but not the mark of a footstep could we find. 

Continuing our way through a thicket, which was so 
densely overgrown with Hanes that we had to clear a passage 
with our hatchets, we again emerged on the seashore be- 
yond, and found an open view, the forest sweeping inland, 
while on the space before us stood at intervals single trees 
of remarkable appearance. 

These at once attracted Fritz’s observant eye, and he 
pointed to them, exclaiming: 

‘‘Oh, what absurd-looking trees, father! See what 
strange bumps there are on the trunks.” 

We approached to examine them, and I recognised them 
as calabash trees, the fruit of which grows in this curious 
way on the stems and is a species of gourd, from the hard 
rind of which bowls, spoons, and bottles can be made. I 
took from my pocket a piece of string, which I tied tightly 
round a gourd, as near one end of it as I could. Then I 
tapped the string with the back of my knife, and it pene- 
trated the outer shell. When this was accomplished, I 
tied the string yet tighter. Drawing the ends with all my 
might, the gourd fell, divided exactly as I wished. 

“That is very clever,” cried Fritz. “Where did you 
learn that, father.?’^ 

“It is a plan which the negroes use,” I replied, as I have 
learned from reading books of travel.” 

I filled the gourds with sand, and left them to dry; mark- 
ing the spot that we might return for them on our way 
back. 

For three hours or more we pushed forward. We kept 
a sharp look-out on either side for any trace of our com- 
panions, until we reached a bold promontory, stretching 
some way into the sea. I knew that from its rocky sum- 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


11 


mits we should obtain a good and comprehensive view of 
the surrounding country. We reached the top with little 
difficulty. The beautiful landscape was carefully surveyed, 
but we failed to see the slightest sign or trace of human 
beings. Before us stretched a wide and lovely bay, fringed 
with yellow sands. The scene inland was no less beautiful. 
Yet Fritz and I both felt a shade of loneliness stealing over 
us as we gazed on its utter solitude. 

“Cheer up, Fritz, my boy,’’ said I presently. “Re- 
member that we chose a settler’s life long ago, before we 
left our own dear country. We certainly did not expect to 
be so entirely alone — -but what matters a few people, more 
or less ? With God’s help, let us endeavor to live here 
contentedly, thankful that we were not cast upon some 
bare and inhospitable island.” 

We descended the hill and made for a clump of palm 
trees, which we saw at a little distance. To reach this, 
we had to pass through a dense thicket of reeds, no pleasant 
or easy task. I feared at every step that we might tread on 
some venomous snake. Sending the dog Turk in advance, 
I cut one of the reeds, thinking it would be a more useful 
weapon against a reptile than my gun. I had carried it 
but a little way, when I noticed a little juice exuding from 
one end. I tasted it, and at once knew that I was standing 
amongst sugar-canes. 

“Oh, father, sugar-canes! Oh, how delicious, how de- 
lightful! Do let us take a lot home to mother,” said Fritz, 
sucking eagerly at the cane. 

“ Gently, there,” said I, “ moderation • in all things, re- 
member. Cut some to take home if you like, only don’t 
take more than you can conveniently carry.” 

In spite of my warning, my son cut a dozen or more of 
the largest canes, and stripping them of their leaves, carried 
them under hi§ arnj, Wfi then pushed through the cane- 


12 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


brake, and reached the clump of palms for which we had 
been making. As we entered it a troop of monkeys, who 
had been disporting themselves on the ground, sprang up, 
chattering and grimacing, and before we could clearly dis- 
tinguish them were at the very top of the trees. 

Fritz was so provoked that he raised his gun and would 
have shot one of the poor beasts. 

‘‘Stay,’’ cried I; “never take the life of an animal need- 
lessly. A live monkey up in that tree is of more use to us 
than a dozen dead ones at our feet, as I will show you.” 

Saying this, I gathered a handful of small stones, and 
threw them up toward the apes. Influenced by their in- 
stinctive mania for imitation, they instantly seized all the 
cocoanuts within their reach, and sent a perfect hail of them 
down upon us. 

Fritz was delighted with my stratagem, and rushing for- 
ward picked up some of the finest of the nuts. We drank 
the milk they contained, drawing it through the holes which 
I pierced, and then, splitting the nuts open with the hatchet, 
ate the cream which lined their shells. I slung a couple of 
the nuts over my shoulder, Fritz having resumed his bur- 
den, and we began our homeward march. 

Just as we had passed through the grove in which we had 
breakfasted, Turk suddenly darted away from us and 
sprang furiously among a group of monkeys which were 
gambolling playfully on the turf at a little distance from 
t‘he trees. They were taken by surprise completely, and 
the dog, now really ravenous from hunger, had seized and 
was fiercely tearing one to pieces before we could approach 
the spat. 

His luckless victim was the mother of a tiny little monkey, 
which, being on her back when the dog flew at her, hindered 
her flight. The little creature attempted to hide among the 
grass, and in trembling fear watched its mother. When 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


13 


Fritz perceived Turk’s bloodthirsty design, he rushed at 
once to the rescue. He flung away all he was carrying, 
and lost his hat in his haste. No sooner did the young 
monkey catch sight of him, than at one bound it was on his 
shoulders, and holding fast by his thick curly hair, it firmly 
kept its seat in spite of all he could do to dislodge it. He 
screamed and plunged about as he endeavored to shake or 
pull the creature oflF, but all in vain; it only clung the 
closer to his neck, making the most absurd grimaces. 

At last, by coaxing the monkey, offering it a bit of biscuit, 
and gradually disentangling its small sinewy paws from 
the curls it grasped so tightly, I managed to release poor 
Fritz, who then looked with interest at the baby ape, no 
bigger than a kitten, as it lay in my arms. 

“What a jolly little fellow it is!” exclaimed he, “do let 
me try to rear it, father. I dare say cocoanut milk would 
do until we can bring the cow and the goats from the wreck. 
If he lives he may be useful to us. I believe monkeys in- 
stinctively know what fruits are wholesome and what are 
poisonous.” 

“Well,” said I, “let the little orphan be yours. You 
bravely and kindly exerted yourself to save the mother’s 
life; now you must train her child carefully. Unless you 
do so its natural instinct will prove mischievous instead of 
useful to us.” 

Ere long we found ourselves on the rocky margin of the 
stream and close to the rest of our party. We were quickly 
on the other side, and, full of joy and affection, our happy 
party was once more united. 

When the excitement subsided a little, I was able to say 
words with a chance of being listened to. “I am truly 
thankful to see you all safe and well. Thank God, our ex- 
pedition has been very satisfactory, except that we have en- 
tirely failed to discover any trace of our shipmates.” 


14 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


‘‘If it be the will of God/’ said my wife, “to leave us 
alone on this solitary place, let us be content, and rejoice 
that we are all together in safety.” 

“Now we want to hear all your adventures, and let us 
relieve you of your burdens,” added she, and took my game 
bag. 

Jack shouldered my gun, Ernest took the cocoanuts, 
and little Franz carried the gourds. Fritz distributed the 
sugar-canes amongst his brothers, and handing Ernest his 
gun, put the monkey on Turk’s back. 

My wife, as a prudent housekeeper, was no less delighted 
than the children with these discoveries. The sight of 
the dishes pleased her greatly. She longed to see us eat 
once more like civilized beings. We went into the kitchen 
and there found preparations for a truly sumptuous meal. 
Two forked sticks were planted in the ground on either 
side of the fire; on these rested a rod from which hung 
several tempting looking fish. Opposite them hung a 
goose from a similar contrivance, slowly roasting while 
the gravy dropped into a large shell placed beneath it. 
In the center sat the great pot, from which issued the smell 
of a most delicious soup. To crown this splendid array, 
stood an open hogshead full of Dutch cheese. 

“This is not one of our geese,” my wife said, “but a 
wild bird Ernest killed.” 

“Yes,” said Ernest, “It is a penguin, I think; it let 
me get quite close, so that I knocked it on the head with a 
stick. Here are its head and feet, which I preserved to 
show you. The bill is, you see, narrow and curved down- 
ward, and the feet are webbed. Do you not think it must 
have been a penguin?” 

“I have little doubt on the matter, my boy,” and I was 
about to make a few remarks on the habits of this bird 
when my wife interrupted me and begged us to come to 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


15 


dinner, and continue our natural history conversation at 
some future time. 

The sun was now rapidly sinking behind the horizon. 
The poultry, retiring for the night, warned us that we 
must follow their example. Having offered up our prayers 
we lay down on our beds, the monkey crouched down be- 
tween Jack and Fritz, and we were all soon fast asleep. 

We did not, however, long enjoy this repose. A loud 
barking from our dogs, who were on guard outside the 
tent, awakened us, and the fluttering and cackling of our 
poultry warned us that a foe was approaching. Fritz 
and I sprang up, and seizing our guns rushed out. There 
we found a desperate combat going on. Our gallant dogs, 
surrounded by a dozen or more jackals, were fighting 
bravely. Four of their opponents lay dead, but the others 
were in no way deterred by the fate of their comrades. 
Fritz and I, however, sent bullets through the heads of a 
couple more, and the rest galloped off. Fritz wished to 
save one of the jackals that he might be able to show it to 
his brothers in the morning. He dragged the one that he 
had shot near the tent and concealed it. Then we returned 
to our beds at once. 

Soundly and peacefully we slept until cock-crow next 
morning, when my wife and I awoke, and began to dis- 
cuss the business of the day. 

‘Ht seems absolutely necessary, my dear wife,’’ I be- 
gan, ‘To return at once to the wreck while the sea is yet 
calm. We ought to save the poor animals that were left 
behind, and bring on shore many articles of infinite value 
to us. If we do not recover them now, we may finally 
lose them entirely. At the same time I feel that I ought 
not to leave you in such an insecure shelter as this tent.^’ 

“Return to the wreck by all means,’’ replied my wife, 
cheerfully. “Patience, order, and perseverance will help 


16 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


us through all our work. Come, let us wake up the children, 
and set to work without delay.’’ 

They were soon aroused, and Fritz overcoming his drowsi- 
ness before the others, ran out for his jackal; it was cold 
and stiff from the night air, and he placed it on the legs 
before the tent in a most life-like attitude, and stood by to 
watch the effect upon the family. 

“A yellow dog!” cried Franz. 

‘‘A wolf!” exclaimed Jack. 

“ It is a striped fox,” said Ernest. 

“Hallo,” said Fritz. “The greatest men may make 
mistakes. Our Professor does not know a jackal when he 
sees one.” 

“But really,” continued Ernest, examining the animal, 
think it is a fox.” 

“Very well,” retorted Fritz, “no doubt you know better 
than your father. He thinks it is a jackal.” 

“Come, boys,” said I, “no more of this quarreling; you 
are none of you very far wrong, for the jackal partakes of 
the nature of all three, dog, wolf, and fox.” 

The monkey had come out on Jack’s shoulder, but no 
sooner did it catch sight of the jackal, than it fled precipi- 
tately back into the tent, and hid itself in a heap of moss 
until nothing was visible but the tip of its little nose. Jack 
soothed and comforted the frightened little animal, and I 
then summoned them all in to prayers, soon after which 
we began our breakfast. While we were thus employed, 
I noticed that the two dogs were lying unusually quiet by 
my side; the faithful animals had not escaped unhurt 
from their late combat, but had received several deep and 
painful wounds, especially about the neck. The dogs be- 
gan to lick each other on the places which they could not 
reach with their own tongues, and my wife carefully dressed 
the wounds with butter, of which we had a hogshead. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


17 


A sudden thought now struck Ernest, and he wisely re- 
marked, that if we were able to make spiked collars for the 
dogs, they would escape such dangerous wounds in the 
future. “Oh, yes!” exclaimed Jack, “and I will make them.” 

I begged the party who were to remain on shore to keep 
together as much as possible. After I had arranged a 
set of signals with my wife, that we might exchange comr 
munications, I asked a blessing on our enterprise. I erected 
a signal post. While Fritz was making preparations 
for our departure, I hoisted a strip of saildoth as a flag. 
This flag was to remain hoisted so long as all was well on 
shore, but should our return be desired, three shots wer^ 
to be fired and the flag lowered. 

We had not got far from the shore, when I perceived 
that a current from the river set in directly for the vessel.’ 
I succeeded in steering the boat into the favorable stream^ 
which carried us nearly three-fourths of our passage with 
little or no trouble to ourselves. Then, by dint of hard 
pulling, we accomplished the whole distance. Entering 
through the breach, we gladly made fast our boat and 
stepped on board. 

Our first care was to see the animals, who greeted u? 
with joy — lowing, bellowing, and bleating as we approached} 
not that the poor beasts were hungry, but they were appar- 
ently pleased by the mere sight of human beings. Fritz 
then placed his monkey by one of the goats, and the little 
animal immediately sucked the milk with evident relish^ 
chattering and grinning all the while. “Now,” said I, 
“we have plenty to do; where shall we begin?” 

“Let us fix a mast and sail to our boat,” answered Fritz; 
“for the current which brought us out will not take us back, 
whereas the fresh breeze we met would help us immensely 
had we but a sail.” 

“Capital thought,” I replied; “let us set to work at once.” 


18 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


I chose a stout spar to serve as a mast. Next we made 
a hole in a plank and nailed it across one of the tubs. With 
the help of a rope and a couple of blocks, we fastened the 
mast and secured it with stays. Then we discovered a 
lug-sail, which had belonged to one of the ships boats. 
This we hoisted. Our craft was now ready to sail. 

I contrived a rudder, that I might be able to steer the 
boat. I knew that an oar would serve the purpose, but 
it was cumbrous and inconvenient. While I was thus 
employed, Fritz examined the shore with his glass and 
6oon announced that the flag was flying and all was well. 

So much time had now slipped away that we found that 
we could not return that night, as I had wished. We 
signalled our intention of remaining on board, and then 
spent the rest of our time in taking out the stones we had 
placed in the boat for ballast, and stowed in the place 
heavy articles of value to us. 

The ship had sailed for the purpose of supplying a young 
colony, and she had therefore on board every conceivable 
article we could desire in our present situation. Our only 
difficulty, indeed, was to make a wise selection. 

Night drew on, and a large fire, lighted by those on shore, 
showed us that all was well. We replied by hoisting four 
ship’s lanterns, and two shots announced to us that our sig- 
nal was perceived; then, with a heartfelt prayer for the 
safety of our dear ones on shore, we retired to our boat, 
and Fritz, at all events, was soon sound asleep. 

At daybreak Fritz and I arose and went on deck. I 
brought the telescope to bear upon the shore, and with pleas- 
ure saw the flag still waving in the morning breeze. While I 
kept the glass directed to the land, I saw the door of the tent 
open, and my wife appear and look steadfastly toward us. 

‘‘Fritz,” I said, “I am not now in such haste to get 
back. I begin to feel compassion for all these poor 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


19 


beasts. I wish we could devise some means for getting them 
on shore. 

“Well/’ said Fritz, “I can think of nothing else, unless, 
indeed, we make them such swimming belts as you made 
for the children.” 

“Really, my boy, that idea is worth having. I am not 
joking,” I continued, as I saw him smile; “we may get 
every one of the animals ashore in that way.” 

I caught a fine sheep, and first fastened a broad piece of 
linen round its belly, and to this attached some corks and 
^mpty tins; then, with Fritz’s help, I flung the animal into 
fhe sea — it sank, but a moment afterward rose and floated 
famously. The ass, cow, sheep, and goats followed one 
^fter the other. We fastened to the horns or neck of each 
animal a cord with a float attached to the end, and now 
embarking, we gathered up these floats, set sail, and steered 
for shore, drawing our herd after us. Steering the boat to a 
convenient landing-place, I cast off the ropes which secured 
the animals, and let them get ashore as best they might. 

There was no sign of my wife or children when we stepped 
on land, but a few moments afterward they appeared, and 
with a shout of joy ran toward us. We were thankful to be 
once more united, and proceeded to release our herd from 
their swimming belts, which though so useful in the water, 
were exceedingly inconvenient on shore. 

Fritz, Ernest, and I begun the work of unloading our 
craft. Jack seeing that the poor donkey was still encum- 
bered with his swimming belt, tried to free him from it. '‘I 
have not been idle all day,” he said; “look here!” and he 
pointed to a belt round his waist. It was a broad belt of 
yellow hair, in which he had stuck a couple of pistols and a 
knife. “And see,” he added, “what I have made for the 
dogs. Here, Juno! Turk!” The dogs came bounding up at 
his call, and I saw that they were each supplied with a collar 


20 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


of the same skin, in which were fastened nails, which bristled 
round their necks in a most formidable manner. 

“Capital! capital, my boy,’' said I, “but where did you 
get your materials, and who helped you F* 

“Except in cutting the skin,” said my wife, “he had no 
assistance. As for the materials, Fritz’s jackal supplied us 
with the skin, and the needles and thread come out of my 
wonderful bag.” 

When all was accomplished we started for our tent, and 
I said, “Fritz, let us have a Westphalian ham.” 

“Ernest,” said my wife, smiling, “let us see if we cannot 
conjure up some eggs.” 

Fritz got out a splendid ham for our cargo, and carried 
it triumphantly to his mother, while Ernest set before me a 
dozen white balls with parchment-like coverings. 

“Turtles’ eggs!” said I. “Well done, Ernest!” 

The meal to which we sat down that evening was quite 
unlike the first supper we had there enjoyed. My wife had 
improvised a table of a board laid on two casks; on this was 
spread a white damask tablecloth, on which were placed 
knives, forks, spoons, and plates for each person. First 
appeared a tureen of good soup which was followed by a 
capital omelette. Then we had slices of ham. Some Dutch 
cheese, butter, an4 biscuits, completed the repast. 


CHAPTER III. 


“ T WILL spare you a description,” said my wife, '‘of our 

I first day’s occupations. Truth to tell, I spent the time 
^ chiefly in anxious thought and watching your progress 
and signals. I rose very early this morning, and began to con- 
sider how our position could be improved. 'For it is per- 
fectly impossible,’ said I to myself, 'to live much longer 
where we are now. The sun beats burningly the livelong 
day on this bare rocky spot. Our only shelter is this poor 
tent, beneath the canvas of which the heat is even more 
oppressive than on the open shore. Among those delightful 
woods and groves where Fritz and his father saw so many 
charming things, I feel sure there must be some little retreat 
which we could establish ourselves comfortably. There 
must be, I am sure, and I will find it.’ 

"My scheme of a journey was agreed to joyously by my 
young companions. Preparations were instantly set on 
foot. Weapons and provisions were provided. The two 
elder boys carried guns. I was given charge of the water 
flask and a small hatchet. 

"After filling our water-jar we crossed the stream, and 
went on to the height, from whence a lovely prospect is 
obtained, as you described. 

"A pretty little wood in the distance attracted my notice 
particularly, and thither we directed our course. But we 


22 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


soon found it impossible to force our way through the tall 
strong grass, which grew in dense luxuriance higher than 
the children’s heads. So we turned toward the open beach 
on our left, and, following it, we reached a point much nearer 
the little wood. We quit the strand and made toward it. 

“We were lost in admiration of the trees of this grove. I 
cannot describe to you how wonderful they are. You can- 
not form the least idea of their enormous size without seeing 
them yourself. What we had been calling a wood proved 
to be a group of only about a dozen trees. What was stranger 
yet, the roots sustained the massive trunks exalted in the air, 
forming strong arches, and props and stays all around each 
individual stem, which was firmly rooted in the centre. 

“The longer we remained in this enchanting place, the 
more did it charm our fancy; and if we could but manage 
to live in some sort of dwelling up among the branches of 
those grand noble trees, I should feel perfectly safe and happy. 
It seemed to me absurd to suppose we should ever find 
another place half so lovely. So I determined to search 
no further, but return to the beach and see if anything from 
the wreck had been cast up by the waves which we could 
carry away with us. 

“On reaching the shore we found it strewed with many 
articles, doubtless of value, but all too heavy for us to lift. 
We rolled some casks, however, beyond high-water mark, 
and dragged a chest or two also higher on the beach. 

“Now I hope you approve of the proceedings of your 
exploring party, and that to-morrow you will do me the 
favor of packing up everything, and taking us away to live 
among my splendid trees.” 

“Perhaps something may come of the idea,” said I. 
“Meanwhile, as we have finished our supper, and night 
is coming on, let us commend ourselves to Almighty pro- 
tection and retire to rest.” 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


23 


Beneath the shelter of our tent we all slept soundly until 
break of day, when, my wife and I awaking, we took coun- 
sel together as to future proceedings. 

“In the first place,’’ said I, “I am unwilling to quit a 
spot to which I am convinced we were providentially led 
as a landing-place. See how secure it is; guarded on all 
sides by these high cliffs, and accessible only by the narrow 
passage to the ford, while from this point it is so easy to 
reach the ship that the whole of its valuable cargo is at our 
disposal. Suppose we decide to stay patiently here for 
the present — until, at leastj we have brought on shore 
everything we possibly can 

“I agree with you to a certain extent, dear,” replied 
she; “but you do not know how dreadfully the heat among 
the rocks tries me. It is almost intolerable to us who re- 
main here all day, while you and Fritz are away out at 
sea or wandering among the shady woods, where cool fruits 
refresh, and fair scenes delight you.” 

“Well, I must admit that there is much right on your 
side,” I continued; “suppose we were to remove to your 
chosen abode, and make this rocky fastness our magazine 
and place of retreat in case of danger. I could easily ren- 
der it more secure by blasting portions of the rock with 
gunpowder. But a bridge must be constructed in the 
first place to enable us to cross bag and baggage. Bags 
and baskets we must have to put things in, and if you 
will turn your attention to providing those, I will set 
about the bridge at once. It will be wanted not once^ 
but continually; the stream will probably swell and be 
impassable at times, and even as it is, an accident might 
happen.” 

When the children heard of the proposed move their 
joy was boundless. They began at once to talk of it as our 
“Journey to the Promised Land.” Their only regret was 


24 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


that time must be ‘^wasted’’ as they said, in bridge-building 
before it could be undertaken. 

Jack showed me where he thought the bridge should be, 
and I certainly saw no better place. The banks were at 
that point only some eighteen feet apart, steep, and of about 
equal height. 

The question as to how the planks were to be laid across 
was a difficult one. There fortunately were one or two 
trees close to the stream on either side. I attached a rope 
pretty near one end of a beam, and slung it loosely to the 
tree beside us. After fastening a long rope to the other 
end, I crossed with it by means of broken rocks and stones. 
With a pulley and block, I soon arranged the rope on a 
Strong limb of the opposite tree. Then I returned with 
the end to our own side. 

Now I brought the ass and the cow. Fastening this rope 
to the harness I had previously contrived for them, I drove 
them steadily away from the bank. To my great satis- 
faction, and the surprise and delight of the boys, the end of 
the plank which had been laid along-side the stream began 
gently to move, rose higher, turned, and soon projecting 
over the water, continued in advance, until, having de- 
scribed the segment of a circle, it reached the opposite 
bank. I stopped my team, the plank rested on the ground, 
the bridge was made! 

A second and a third plank were laid beside the first; 
and when these were carefully secured at each end to the 
ground and to the trees, we very quickly laid short boards 
side by side across the beams, the boys nailing them lightly 
down as I sawed them in lengths. When this was done, 
our bridge was pronounced complete. Nothing could 
exceed the excitement of the children. They danced to 
and fro on the wonderful structure, singing, shouting, and 
cutting the wildest capers, 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


25 


Next morning the greatest activity prevailed in our 
camp. Some collected provisions, others packed kitchen 
utensils, tools, ropes, and hammocks, arranging them as 
burdens for the cow and ass. My wife pleaded for a seat 
on the latter for little Franz, and assuring me likewise that 
she could not possibly leave the poultry, even for a night, 
nor exist an hour without her magic bag, I agreed to do 
my best to please her, without downright cruelty to the 
animals. 

Having filled the tent with the things we left behind, 
closing it carefully, and ranging chests and casks round it, 
we were finally ready to be off, each well equipped and in 
the highest spirits. 

Fritz and his mother led the van. Franz and the sober- 
minded cow followed them closely. Jack conducted the 
goats. One of these goats had a rider, for Nips, the monkey, 
was seated on his foster-mother, whose patience was sorely 
tried by his restlessness and playful tricks. The sheep 
were under Ernest’s care. I brought up the rear of this 
patriarchal band, while the two dogs kept constantly run- 
ning backward and forward in the character of aides-de- 
camp. 

With honest pride I introduced my wife to my bridge, 
and we passed over it in grand procession, reinforced un- 
expectedly on the opposite side by the arrival of our cross- 
grained old sow. I soon found we must, as before, turn 
down to the sea-beach. Not only did the ranl^ grass im- 
pede our progress, but it also tempted the animals to break 
away from us. If it had not been for our watchful dogs, 
we might have lost several of them. 

The wonderful appearance of the enormous mangrove 
trees, and the calm beauty of the spot altogether, fully came 
up to the enthusiastic description which had been given 
me. My wife gladly heard me say that, if an abode could 


26 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 

be contrived among the branches, it would be the safest 
and most charming home in the world. 

We hastily unloaded the ass and the cow, securing them, 
as well as the sheep and goats, by tying their fore-feet 
loosely together. The doves and poultry were set at liberty, 
and we sat down to rest among the soft herbage while we 
laid our plans for the night. 

Presently Fritz brought in a tiger cat he had shot, and 
Jack a porcupine, while Franz joyfully produced some wild 
figs, which were first tried on the monkey, who ate them 
greedily. 

Part of the porcupine was put on the fire to boil, while we 
reserved the rest for roasting. I employed myself in contriv- 
ing needles for my wife’s work, by boring holes at one end of 
the quills. I did this by means of a red-hot nail. Soon I had 
a nice packet of various sizes, which pleased her immensely. 

When dinner was over I prepared our night quarters. I 
first slung our hammocks from the roots of the tree which, 
meeting above us, formed an arched roof, then covering the 
whole with sail-cloth, we made a temporary tent, which 
would at least keep off the night damps and noxious insects. 

My wife was engaged in making a set of harness out of 
sail-cloth for the ass and cow, whose strength I intended to 
employ the following day in drawing the beams up to our 
tree. I walked down with Fritz and Ernest to the beach to 
look for wood suitable for building our new abode, and also 
to discover, if possible, some light rods to form a ladder. 
For some time we hunted in vain. Nothing but rough drift- 
wood was to be seen, utterly unfit for our purpose. Ernest 
at length pointed out a quantity of bamboos, half buried in 
the sand. These were exactly what I wanted and, stripping 
them of their leaves, I cut them into lengths of about five 
feet each. I bound these in bundles to carry to the tree. 
Then I gathered up some slight reeds to serve as arrows. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


27 


Telling Fritz to collect all our cord, and the others to roll 
all the tw ne into a ball, I sat down, and taking the reeds, 
speedily manufactured half a dozen arrows and feathered 
them from a flamingo we had shot. I then took a strong 
bamboo, bent it, and strung it so as to form a bow. 

Fritz had obtained two coils of cord, each about forty feet 
in length. These we stretched on the ground side by side. 
Then Fritz cut the bamboos into pieces of two feet for the 
steps of the ladder. As he handed them to me, I passed them 
through knots which I had prepared in the ropes. Jack 
fixed each end with a nail driven through the wood. When 
the ladder was finished, I fastened one end of it to a rope. 
The other end of the rope was attached to an arrow which 
I shot over the bough. Now I hauled up the ladder and 
then fixed the lower end firmly to the ground by means of 
stakes, and all was ready for an ascent. 

Jack, active as a monkey, sprang up the ladder and quickly 
gained the top. 

‘‘Three cheers for the nest!’’ he exclaimed, waving his cap. 
“What a house we will have up here! Come along Fritz.” 

His brother was soon by his side, and with a hammer and 
nails secured the ladder yet more securely. I followed with 
an axe, and took a survey of the tree. It was admirably 
suited to our purpose. The branches were very strong and 
so closely interwoven that no beams would be required to 
form a flooring. When some of the boughs were lopped 
and cleared away, a few planks would be quite sufficient. 

Fritz and I ascended the tree, and finished the preparations 
I had begun the night before; all useless boughs we lopped 
off, leaving a few about six feet from the floor, from which 
we might sling our hammocks, and others still higher, to 
support a temporary roof of sail-cloth. My wife made fast 
the planks to a rope passed through a block I had fixed to 
the boughs above us, and by this means Fritz and I hauled 



I drew up the ladder and we retired for the night. 



THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


29 


them up. These we arranged side by side on the founda- 
tion of boughs, so as to form a smooth solid floor. Round 
this plaftorm we built a bulwark of planks, and then throw- 
ing the sail-cloth over the higher branches, we drew it down 
and firmly nailed it. 

Our house was thus enclosed on three sides. Behind the 
great trunk protected us, while the front was left open to 
admit the fresh sea breeze which blew directly in. We then 
hauled up our hammocks and bedding and slung them from 
the branches we had left for that purpose. After working 
like slaves all day, Fritz and I flung ourselves on the grass, 
while my wife arranged supper on a table we had made. 
‘‘ Come,’^ said she at length, “ come and taste flamingo stew, 
and tell me how you like it.” 

We lit our watch-fires, and leaving the dogs on guard below, 
ascended the ladder. Fritz, Ernest, and Jack were up in a 
moment. Their mother followed very cautiously. Then, 
taking little Franz on my back, I let go the fastenings which 
secured the lower end to the ground, and swinging to and 
fro, slowly ascended. 

Then for the first time we stood altogether in our new 
home. I drew up the ladder, and, with a greater sense of 
security than I had enjoyed since we landed on the island, 
offered up our evening prayer, and retired for the night. 


CHAPTER IV. 


N ext morning all were early awake. The children 
sprang about the tree like young monkeys. 

At breakfast we decided to give suitable names 
to the different places we had visited on this coast. 

‘Ht is important that we do this/’ said I, ‘Tor it will be- 
come more and more troublesome to explain what we 
mean, unless we do so. Besides, we shall feel more at 
home if we talk as people do in populated countries; in- 
stead of saying, for instance, ‘the little island at the mouth 
of our bay, where we found the dead shark,’ ‘the large 
stream near our tent, across which we made the bridge,’ 
‘that wood where we found cocoanuts, and caught the 
monkey,’ and so on. Let us begin by naming the bay in 
which we landed. What shall we call it?” 

“Oyster Bay,” said Fritz. 

“I think,” observed his mother, “that, in token of grati- 
tude for our escape, we shall call it Safety Bay.” 

“Good!” said they all, and Safety Bay was forthwith ac- 
cepted as a fixed name. 

Other names were quickly chosen. Our first place of 
abode was called Tentholm; the islet in the bay Shark’s 
Island, and the reedy swamp, Flamingo Marsh. It was 
sometime before the serious question of a name for our 
leafy castle could be decided. But finally we named it 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


31 


Falconhurst. The few remaining points were designated 
as Prospect Hill, the eminence we first ascended; Cape 
Disappointment, from whose rocky heights we had strained 
our eyes in vain search for our ship’s company; and Jackal 
River, the large stream at our landing place. 

After this the days sped quickly. We brought up our 
stores from Tentholm. Important discoveries were made 
in both the animal and the vegetable kingdoms, including 
potatoes, salmon, and kangaroos. We also constructed a 
sledge for our animals to draw. Fritz and I also made re- 
peated visits to the wreck, until we were really provided 
with all that settlers could desire in the way of beginning a 
truly civilized existence. 

One of our most valuable acquisitions was discovered by 
Fritz. He had found, carefully packed and enclosed 
within partitions, what appeared to be the separate parts of 
a yacht, with rigging and fittings complete. There were 
even a couple of small brass guns to go with the boat. This 
was a great discovery. But it proved an arduous task to 
put such a craft together so as to be fit for sea. 

For the present we took ashore all the implements for a 
smith’s forge, also a copper boiler, iron plates, two grind- 
stones, a small barrel of powder, and another of flints, and 
three wheel-barrows. 

The next days were spent in hard work on board. We 
first cut and cleared an open space round the yacht. Then 
we put the parts together. We started early and returned 
at night, and each time brought valuable freight from the 
old vessel. 

At length everything was completed. The yacht stood 
actually ready to be launched. But it was imprisoned 
within massive wooden walls which defied our strength. 

Without explaining my purpose I filled a large cast-iron 
mortar with gunpowder and secured a block of oak to the 


32 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


top. Through this block I pierced a hole for the insertion 
of the match. This great bomb I placed in such a way 
that when it exploded it should blow out the side of the 
vessel next to which the yacht lay.* 

After securing the bomb with chains that the recoil 
might do no damage, I told the boys I was going ashore 
earlier than usual. After asking them to get into the boat 
I lighted a match which I had so prepared that it would burn 
some time without reaching the powder. Then I hastened 
after my boys with a beating heart, and we made for the land. 

We brought our raft close in shore and began to unload 
it. The other boat I did not haul up, but kept her ready to 
put off at a moment’s notice. My anxiety was not observed 
by any one, as I listened with strained nerves for the ex- 
pected sound. It came! a flash! a mighty roar! — a 
grand burst of smoke! 

My wife and children, terror-stricken, turned their eyes 
toward the sea, whence the startling noise came. Then, 
in fear and wonder, they looked to me for some explan- 
ation. 

‘‘Perhaps,” said the mother, as I did not speak, “per- 
haps you have left a light burning near some of the gun- 
powder, and an explosion has taken place.” 

“Not at all unlikely,” replied I, quietly; “we had a fire 
below when we were calking the seams of the yacht. I 
shall go at once and see what has happened. Will any- 
one come ?” 

The boys needed no second invitation. They sprang 
into the boat. Meanwhile I reassured my wife by whisper- 
ing a few words of explanation. Then joining the boys 
we pulled for the wreck at a more rapid rate than we ever 
had done before. 

No alteration had taken place in the side at which we 
usually boarded her. We pulled around to the further side. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


33 


There a marvellous sight awaited us. A huge rent ap- 
peared. The decks and bulwarks were torn open. The 
water was covered with floating wreckage. All seemed 
in ruins. The compartment where the yacht rested was 
fully revealed to view. 

There sat the little beauty, to all appearance uninjured. 
The boys were astonished to hear me shout in enthusiastic 
delight: “Hurrah! she is ours! The lovely yacht is 

won! We shall be able to launch her easily after all. Come, 
boys, let us see if she has suffered from the explosion which 
has set her free.” 

It was evident the launch could now be effected without 
much trouble. I had been careful to place rollers beneath 
the keel, so that we might by our united strength move her 
forward toward the water. The yacht began to slide 
from the stocks, and finally slipped gently and steadily 
Lito the water where she floated as if conscious it was her 
native element. We were wild with excitement, and cheered 
and waved enthusiastically. 

Some days were devoted to completing the rigging. 
Next we mounted her two little brass guns. It was wonder- 
ful what martial ardor was awakened by the possession of a 
vessel armed with two real guns. The boys chattered 
incessantly about savages, fleets of canoes, attack, defence, 
and final annihilation of the invaders. We now took her to 
the island and showed her to mother. 

After the yacht had been duly admired my good wife said 
to me, “Now you must come with me and see how Franz and I 
I have improved our time every day of your absence.” 

We all landed. With great curiosity we followed mother 
up the river toward the cascade. There, to our astonish- 
ment, we found a garden neatly laid out in beds and walks. 
Mother continued ‘‘Look at my beds of lettuce and cab- 


34 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


bages, my rows of beans and peas. Think what delicious 
dinners I shall be able to cook for you.” 

'*My dear wife,” I exclaimed, “this is beautiful! You 
have done wonders! Did you not find the work too hard ?” 

“The ground is light and easy to dig hereabouts,” she 
replied. “I have planted potatoes, and cassava roots; 
there is space for sugar-canes and young fruit trees, and I 
shall want you to contrive to irrigate them, by leading water 
from the cascades in hollow bamboos. Up by the sheltering 
rocks I mean to have pine-apples and melons; they will look 
splendid when they spread there. To shelter the beds of 
our vegetables from the heat of the sun, I have planted seeds 
of maize round them. The shadow of the tall plants will 
afford protection from the burning rays. £)o you think 
that is a good plan ?” 

The time passed in happy talk over our many new interests. 
Everyone felt the pleasure which attends successful labor 
that gives joy to others. My boys realized that there is 
true happiness in this, rather than in mere self-gratification. 

The welcome Day of Rest now returned again, to be 
observed with heartfelt devotion and grateful praise. We 
all joined in singing our favorite hymns, which my wife knew 
from memory, 


CHAPTER V. 

S OME bushes one day attracted my notice. They were 
loaded with small white berries, of peculiar appearance 
like wax, and very sticky when plucked. I explained 
to Fritz that, by melting and straining these berries, we 
might easily succeed in making candles from the greenish 
wax obtained from these berries, which would be more brit- 
tle than beeswax, but it would burn very fairly and diffuse 
an agreeable perfume. We gathered berries enough to fill 
one canvas bag, and then continued our walk 

Soon after we arrived at a grove of tall trees, with very 
strong, broad, thick leaves. We paused to examine them. 
They bore a round, fig-like fruit, full of little seeds and of a 
sour, harsh taste. 

Fritz saw some gummy resin exuding from cracks in 
the bark. It reminded him of the boyish delight afforded 
by collecting gum from cherry-trees at home. So he 
stopped to scrape off as much as he could. He attempted 
to soften what he had collected in his hands; but soon found 
that it would not work like gum. He was about to fling it 
away, when he suddenly found that he could stretch it and 
that it sprang back to its original size. 

‘^Oh, father, only look! this gum is quite elastic! Can 
is possibly be india-rubber?’’ 

“What I cried I; “let me see it! That would be a valu- 
35 


86 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


able discovery, indeed, I do believe you are perfectly right!’’ 

‘‘Why would it be so valuable, father?” inquired Fritz. 
“I have only seen it used for rubbing out pencil marks.” 

“India-rubber,” I replied, is a milky, resinous juice 
which flows from certain trees in considerable quantities 
when the stem is purposely tapped. These trees are indi- 
genous to the South American countries of Brazil, Guiana, 
and Cayenne. The natives, who first obtained it, used to 
form bottles by smearing earthen flasks with repeated coat- 
ings of the gum when just fresh from the trees, and when 
hardened and sufficiently thick, they broke the mould, shook 
out the fragments, and hung the bottles in the smoke, when 
they become firmer and of a drab color. India-rubber can 
be put to many uses. I am delighted to have it here. We 
shall, I hope, be able to make it into different forms. First 
and foremost, I shall try to manufacture boots and shoes.” 

The idea of candle-making seemed to have taken the 
fancy of all the boys. Next morning they woke, one after 
the other, with the word candle on their lips. When they 
were thoroughly roused they continued to talk candles. All 
breakfast-time, candles were the subject of conversation. 
After breakfast they would hear of nothing else but setting 
to work at once and making candles. 

“So be it,” said I; “let us become chandlers.” 

I spoke confidently, but to tell the truth, I had in my 
own mind certain misgivings as to the result of our ex- 
periment. I knew that we lacked a very important ingredi- 
ent — animal fat, which is necessary to make candles burn 
for any length of time with brilliancy. Of this, however, 
I said nothing, and the boys were soon at work. We first 
picked off the berries and threw them into a large, shallow, 
iron vessel placed on the fire. The green, sweet-scented 
wax was rigidly melted, rising to the surface pot by the 
fire, ready for use. We repeated the operation several 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


37 


times, until we had collected sufficient liquid wax for our 
purpose. I then took the wicks my wife had prepared, 
and dipped them one after the other into the wax. I handed 
them as I did so to Fritz, who hung them up on a branch 
to dry. The coating they thus obtained was not very 
thick; but, by repeating the operation several times, they 
at length assumed very fair proportions, and became real 
sturdy candles. Our wax being at an end, we hung these 
in a cool, shady place to harden. That same night we 
sat up three whole hours after sunset. Falconhurst was 
for the first time brilliantly illuminated. 

We were all delighted with the success of our experi- 
ment. 

“You are indeed clever,” said my wife; “only I wish 
that with your ingenuity you would show me how to make 
butter. Day after day I see a large supply of good cream 
become sour under my very eyes, simply because I have 
no use to which to put it. Invent a plan, please do.” 

“I think that perhaps I can help you,” I replied, after 
thinking about the matter. “Jack, bring me one of our 
gourd bottles.” 

I took the gourd, with a small hole at one end and well 
hollowed out and cleaned. This I partially filled with 
cream and then corked up the hole tightly. 

“Here, boys,” said I, “you can continue the operation.” 

They fixed four posts in the ground, and to them fas- 
tened a square piece of sail-cloth by four cords attached 
to the corners. In this cradle they placed the gourd of 
cream, and each taking a side rolled it backward and for- 
ward continuously for half an hour. 

“Now,” I cried, “open the gourd and take the contents 
to your mother, with my compliments.” 

They did so, and my good wife’s eyes were delighted 
with the sight of a large lump of capital fresh butter. 


38 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


With my son’s assistance our cart was in time completed. 
A clumsy vehicle it was, but strong enough for our pur- 
pose. It proved of immense use to us. 

We then turned our attention to cur fruit-trees, which 
we had planted in a plot ready for transplanting. The 
walnut, cherry, and chestnut trees we arranged in parallel 
rows, so as to form a shady avenue from Falconhurst to 
the bridge. Between them we laid down a tolerable road, 
that we might have no difficulty in reaching Tentholm, 
be the weather bad as it might. We planted the vines 
round the arched roots of our great mangrove, and the 
rest of the trees in suitable spots, some near Falconhurst 
and the others away over Jackal River, to adorn Tentholm. 

Tentholm had been the subject of serious thought to 
me for some time past, and I now turned all my attention 
thither. It was not my ambition to make it beautiful, 
but to form of it a safe place of refuge in a case of emer- 
gency. My first care, therefore, was to plant a thick, 
prickly hedge capable of protecting us from any wild ani- 
mal, and forming a tolerable obstacle to the attack of even 
savages, should they appear. Not satisfied with this, 
however, we fortified the bridge, and on a couple of hil- 
locks mounted two guns which we had brought from the 
wreck, and with whose angry mouths we might bark de- 
fiance at any enemy, man or beast. 

Six weeks slipped away while we were thus busily occu- 
pied, six weeks of hard, yet pleasant, labor. I now de- 
termined to pay another visit to the wreck, to replenish 
our wardrobe and to see how much longer the vessel was 
likely to hold together. 

‘‘Come, boys,” cried I, “not an article of the slightest 
value must be left on board; rummage her out to the very 
bottom of her hold.” 

They took me at my word; sailors’ chests, bales of cloth 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


39 


and linen, a couple of small guns, ball and shot, tables and 
benches, window shutters, bolts and locks, barrels of pitch, 
all were soon in a heap on the deck. We loaded the yacht 
and went on shore. We soon returned with our tub-boat 
in tow, and after a few more trips nothing was left on 
board. 

“One more trip,’’ said I to my wife, before we started 
again, “and there will be the end of the brave ship which 
carried us from Switzerland. I have left two barrels of 
gunpowder on board and mean to blow her up.” 

Before we lighted the fusee I discovered a large copper 
cauldron which I thought I might save. I made fast to 
it a couple of empty casks, that when the ship went up it 
might float. The barrels were placed, the train lighted, 
and we returned on shore. Suddenly a vivid pillar of 
fire rose from the black waters. A sullen roar boomed 
across the sea, and we knew our good ship was no more. 

We had planned the destruction of the vessel. We 
knew that it was for the best. Yet that night we went to 
bed with a feeling of sadness in our hearts, as though we 
had lost a dear old friend. 


CHAPTER VI. 

1 WISH/’ said my wife, ‘That you would invent some 
other plan for climbing to the nest above us; I think 
that the nest itself is perfect — I really wish for nothing 
better, but I should like to be able to get to it without scaling 
that dreadful ladder every time. Could you not make a 
flight of steps to reach it.?’’ 

I thought over the project carefully and turned over 
every plan for its accomplishment. 

“It would be impossible, I am afraid,” said I, “to make 
stairs outside, but within the trunk it might be done. More 
than once have I thought that this trunk might be hollow, 
or partly so, and if such be the case our task would be com- 
paratively easy. Did you not tell me the other day that you 
noticed bees coming from a hole in the tree ?” 

Master Jack, practical as usual, instantly sprang to his 
feet to investigate. The rest followed his example. Seen 
they were all climbing about like squirrels, peeping into the 
hole, and tappping the wood to discover by sound how far 
down the cavity extended. 

They forgot, in their eagerness, who were the tenants of 
this interesting trunk. They were soon reminded of it, 
however. The bees, disturbed by this unusual noise, burst 
out with an angry buzz. They swarmed round the boys, 
stung them on the hands, face, and neck, settled in their 

40 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


41 


hair, and pursued them as they ran to me for assistance. It 
was with difficulty that we got rid of the angry insects. Jack, 
who had been the first to reach the hole, had fared the worst. 
He was a most pitiable sight. His face swelled to an extra- 
ordinary degree. It was only by the constant application of 
cold earth that the pain was alleviated. 

In the meanwhile I made my arrangements. I first took 
a large calabash gourd, for I intended to make a beehive, 
that, when we had driven the insects from their present 
abode, we might not lose them entirely. The lower half of 
the gourd I flattened, I then cut an arched opening in the 
front for a doorway, made a straw roof as a protection from 
the rain and heat, and the little house was complete. 

I waited till dark. Then, when all the bees had again re- 
turned to their trunk, I carefully stopped up, with Fritz’s 
assistance, every hole in the tree with wet clay, that the 
bees might not issue forth next morning before we could 
begin operations. Very early were we up and at work. I 
first took a hollow cane, and inserted one end through the 
clay into the tree. Down this tube with pipe and tobacco 
I smoked most furiously. 

The humming and buzzing that went on within was tre- 
mendous. The bees evidently could not understand what 
was going to happen. By the time I had finished a second 
pipe all was still. The bees were stupefied. 

‘‘Now, then, Fritz,” said I, “quick with a hammer and 
chisel, and stand here beside me.” 

He was up in a moment, and together we cut a small door 
by the side of the hole. This door, however, we did not take 
out. We left it attached by one corner that it might be 
removed at a moment’s notice. Then giving the bees a 
final dose of tobacco smoke, we opened it. 

Carefully but rapidly we removed the insects, as they 
clung in clusters to the sides of the tree, and placed them in 


42 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


the hive ready for their reception. I then took every atom 
of wax and honey from their storehouse, and put it in a cask 
I had made ready for the purpose. 

The bees were now safely removed from the trunk. So 
at length, after due consideration, they abandoned their 
former habitation to us, the invaders of their territory. By 
the evening we ventured to open the cask in which we had 
stored our plunder. We first separated the honey from the 
honeycomb and poured it off into jars and pots. The rest 
we then took and threw into a vessel of water placed over a 
slow fire. It soon boiled and the entire mass became fluid. 
This we placed in a clean canvas bag, and subjected to a 
heavy pressure. The honey was thus soon forced out, and 
we stored it in a cask. The wax that remained in the bag 
I also carefully stored. I knew it would be of great use to 
me in the manufacture of candles. Then after a hard 
day’s work we turned in. 

The internal arrangement of the tree had now to be at- 
tended to. So early the following morning we prepared 
for the laborious task. A door had first to be made. We 
cut away the bark at the base of the trunk and formed an 
opening just the size of the door we had brought from the 
captain’s cabin, and which, hinges and all, was ready to be 
hung. The clearing of the rotten wood from the centre of 
the trunk occupied us some time, but at length we had the 
satisfaction of seeing it entirely accomplished. As we stood 
below, we could look up the trunk, which was like a great 
smooth funnel, and see the sky above. It was now ready 
for the staircase. First we erected in the centre a stout sap- 
ling to form an axis round which to build the spiral stairs. 
In this we cut notches to receive the steps, and corresponding 
notches in the tree itself to support the outer ends. The 
steps themselves we formed carefully and neatly of planks 
from the wreck, and clinched them firmly in their places 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


43 


with stout nails. Upward and upward we built, cutting 
windows in the trunk as we required, to admit light and air, 
until we reached the level of the floor of the nest above. To 
make the ascent of the stairs perfectly easy we ran a hand- 
rail on either side, and one round the pillar, and the other 
following the curve of the trunk. This task occupied us a 
whole month. 

One morning as we were completing our spiral staircase, 
and giving it such finish as we were capable of, we were sud- 
denly alarmed by hearing a most terrific noise, the roaring 
of a wild beast. It was a strange sound. I could not im- 
agine what it was. 

Jack thought it was a lion, Fritz hazarded a gorilla, while 
Ernest gave it as his opinion, and I thought it possible he 
was right, that it was a hyena. 

“Whatever it is,'’ said I, “we must prepare to receive it. 
Up with you all to the nest while I fasten the door." 

Then arming the dogs with their collars, I sent them out to 
protect the animals below, closed the door and joined my 
family. Every gun was loaded, every eye was upon the 
watch. The sound drew nearer, and then all was still. 
Nothing was to be seen. I determined to descend and in- 
vestigate. Fritz and I carefully crept down. With our 
guns fully cocked we glided among the trees. Noiselessly 
and quickly we pushed on further and further. 

Suddenly, close by, we heard the terrific sound again. 

Fritz raised his gun, but almost as quickly again dropped 
it, and burst into a hearty fit of laughter. 

There was no mistaking those dulcet tones. "He-haw, 
he-haw, he-haw" — resounded through the forest. Our 
donkey brayed his approach merrily. Soon he appeared in 
sight. To our surprise, however, our friend was not alone. 
Behind him trotted another animal, slim and graceful as a 
horse. We watched their movements anxiously. 


44 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


‘‘Fritz/’ I whispered, “that is an onager. Creep back to 
Falconhurst and bring me a piece of cord — quietly now!” 

While he was gone, I cut a bamboo and split it half-way 
down to form a pair of pincers, which I knew would be of 
use to me should I get near the animal. Fritz soon returned 
with the cord. I was glad to observe that he had also brought 
some oats and salt. We fastened one end of the cord to a 
tree, and at the other end we made a running noose. Si- 
lently we watched the animals as they approached, quietly 
browsing. Fritz then arose, holding in one hand the noose 
and in the other some oats and salt. The donkey seeing 
his favorite food thus held out, advanced to take it, and was 
soon munching contentedly. The stranger, on seeing Fritz, 
started back; but finding her companion showed no signs of 
alarm, was reassured, and soon approached sniffing. Just 
as she was about to take some of the tempting food, the 
noose left Fritz’s adroit hand and fell round her neck. With 
a single bound she sprang backward the full length of the 
cord. The noose drew tight, and she fell to the earth half 
strangled. I at once ran up, loosened the rope, and replaced 
it by a halter. After placing the pincers upon the nose, I 
secured her by two cords fastened between two trees. Then 
I left her to recover herself. 

Next morning I found the onager after her night’s rest as 
wild as ever. As I looked at the handsome creature I almost 
despaired of ever taming her proud spirit. Every expedient 
was tried. At length, when she was subdued by hunger, I 
thought I might venture to mount her. Having given her 
the strongest curb and shackled her feet, I attempted to do 
so. I watched for a favorable opportunity and then sprang 
upon the onager’s back. Seizing her long ear in my teeth, 
in spite of her kicking and plunging, I bit it through, after 
the fashion of the American Indians. The result was mar- 
vellous, the animal ceased plunging, and, quivering violently. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


stood stock-still. From that moment we were her masters. 
The children mounted her one after the other, and she carried 
them obediently and quietly. 

Additions to our poultry yard reminded me of the necessity 
of providing some substantial shelter for our animals before 
the rainy season came on. Three broods of chickens had 
been successfully hatched, and the little creatures, forty in 
all, were my wife’s pride and delight. 

Our winter quarters — stables, poultry yard, hay and pro- 
vision lofts, dairy, kitchen, larder and dining-hall — ^were now 
completed. We had but to store them with food. Day after 
day we worked, bringing in provisions of every description. 

It was soon after this that we found the New Zealand flax, 
a discovery which delighted my wife above measure. ‘‘ Bring 
me the leaves!” she exclaimed. “Oh, what a delightful 
discovery! No one shall now be clothed in rags. Just make 
me a spindle, and you shall soon have shirts and stockings 
and trousers, all good homespun! Quick, Fritz, and bring 
your mother more leaves!” 

We decided that Flamingo Marsh would be the best spot 
for the operation of steeping or “retting” the flax. So next 
morning we set out thither with the cart drawn by a donkey. 
Franz and Nips were seated between our bundles on the cart. 
The rest of us followed with spades and hatchets. I de- 
scribed to my boys as we went along the process of retting. 
I explained to them how steeping the flax leaves destroys 
the useless membrane, while the strong fibres remain. For 
a fortnight we left the flax to steep. Then we took it out and 
dried it thoroughly in the sun. Afterward we stored it for 
future use at Falconhurst. 

Daily did we load our cart with provisions to be brought 
to our winter quarters. Manioc, potatoes, cocoanuts, sweet 
acorns, sugar-canes, were all collected and stored in abund- 
ance. Grumbling thunder, lowering skies, and sharp 


46 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


showers warned us that we had no time to lose. Our corn 
was sown, our animals housed, our provisions stored, when 
down came the rain. 

Our nest soon was an impossible habitation. We were 
obliged to retreat to the trunk, where we carried such of our 
domestic furniture as might have been injured by the damp. 
Our dwelling was indeed crowded; the animals and pro- 
visions below, and our beds and household goods around us, 
hemmed us in on every side. By dint of patience and better 
packing, we obtained sufficient room to work and lie down 
in. By degrees, too, we became accustomed to the con- 
tinual noise of the animals and the smell of the stables. The 
smoke from the fire, which we were occasionally obliged to 
light, was not agreeable, but in time even that seemed to 
become more bearable. 

To make more space, we turned outside during the day- 
time such animals as we had captured, and who, therefore, 
might be imagined to know how to shift for themselves. At 
night we let them sleep under the arched roots. To attend 
to the duty of gathering them in Fritz and I used to sail) 
forth every evening, and as regularly every evening did we 
return soaked to the skin. Mother contrived waterproofs, 
to overcome this difficulty. She brushed on several layers 
of India-rubber over stout shirts, to which she attached hoods. 
She then fixed duck trousers to these. Thus she prepared for 
each of us a complete waterproof suit. Clad in this we 
could brave the severest rain. 

Week after week rolled by. Week after week saw us still 
close prisoners. Incessant rain battered down above us; 
constant gloom hung over the desolate scene. 


CHAPTER VII. 

T he winds at length were lulled, the sun shot his bril- 
liant rays through the riven clouds, the rain ceased 
to fall — spring had come. No prisoners set at 
liberty could have felt more joy than we did. We refreshed 
our eyes with the pleasant verdure around us, and our ears 
with the merry songs of a thousand happy birds, and drank 
in the pure, balmy air of spring. 

Our plantations were thriving vigorously. The seed 
we had sown was shooting through the moist earth. All 
nature was refreshed. 

I was anxious to visit Tentholm, for I feared that much 
of our precious stores might have suffered. Fritz and I 
made an excursion hither. The damage done to Falcon- 
hurst was as nothing compared to the scene that awaited 
us. The tent was blown to the ground, the canvas torn 
to rags, the provisions soaked, and two casks of powder 
utterly destroyed. The yacht was safe, but our faithful 
tub-boat was dashed in pieces. 

The irreparable damage we had sustained made me re- 
solve to contrive some safer and more stable winter quar- 
ters before the arrival of the next rainy season. Fritz 
proposed that we should hollow out a cave in the rock. The 
difficulties of such an undertaking appeared almost insur- 
mountable. Yet I determined to make the attempt. 

47 


48 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


Some days afterward we left Falconhurst with the cart 
laden with the cargo of spades, hammers, chisels, pickaxes, 
and crowbars, and began our undertaking. On the smooth 
face of the perpendicular rock I drew out in chalk the size 
of the proposed entrance. Then, with minds bent on suc- 
cess, we battered away. Six days of hard and incessant 
toil made but little impression. We still did not despair. 
Presently we were rewarded by coming to softer and more 
yielding substance. Our work progressed, and our minds 
were relieved. 

On the tenth day, as our persevering blows were falling 
heavily. Jack, who was working with a hammer and crow- 
bar, shouted: 

‘‘Gone, father! my bar has gone through the mountain! 
It went right through the mountain! It went right through 
the rock; I heard it crash down inside. Oh, do come and 
see!’’ he shouted, excitedly. 

We sprang to his side, and I thrust the handle of my ham- 
mer into the hole he spoke of; it met with no opposition — 
I could turn it in any direction I chose. Fritz handed me 
a long pole; I tried the depth with that. Nothing could I 
feel. A thin wall, then, was all that intervened between 
us and a great cavern. 

With a shout of joy the boys battered vigorously at the 
rock; piece by piece it fell, and soon the hole was large 
enough for us to enter. I stepped near the aperture, and 
was about to make a further examination, when a sudden 
rush of poisonous air turned me giddy, and, shouting to 
my sons to stand off, I leaned against the rock. 

When I came to myself I explained to them the danger 
of approaching any cavern or other place where the air has 
for a long time been stagnant. “Unless air is incessantly 
renewed it becomes vitiated,” I said, “and fatal to those who 
breathe it. The safest way of restoring it to its original 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


49 


state IS to subject it to the action of fire/* We tried the 
experiment. A flame was extinguished the instant it en- 
tered. Though bundles of blazing grass were thrown in, 
no difference was made. 

I saw that we must apply some more efficacious remedy. 
So I sent the boys for a chest of signal rockets we had brought 
from the wreck. We let fly some dozens of these fiery 
serpents, which went v/hizzing in, and disappeared at ap- 
parently a vast distance from us. They looked like aveng- 
ing dragons driving a foul, malignant fiend out of a beaute- 
ous palace. 

We waited for a little while after these experiments, and 
I then again threw in lighted hay. It burned clearly; the 
air was purified, and we entered with beating hearts. 

We were in a grotto of diamonds — a vast cave of glitter- 
ing crystal. Our candles reflected on the walls a golden 
light, bright as the stars of heaven. Great crystal pillars 
rose from the floor like mighty trees, mingling their branches 
high above us and drooping in hundreds of stalactites, 
which sparkled and glistened with all the colors of the rain- 
bow. 

The floor of this magnificent palace was formed of hard, 
dry sand, so dry that I at once saw that we might safely 
take up our abode therein, without the slightest fear of dan- 
ger from the damp. 

This was a cavern of rock salt. There was no doubt 
^bout it — here was an unlimited supply of the best and 
purest salt! To satisfy ourselves that there were no pieces 
tottering above us, we discharged our guns from the entrance, 
and watched the eflPect. Nothing fell — our magnificent 
abode was safe. 

We returned to Falconhurst with minds full of wonder 
at our new discovery, and plans for turning it to the best 
possible advantage. 


50 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


Nothing was now talked of but the new house, how it 
should be arranged, how it should be fitted up. The safety 
and comfort of Falconhurst, which had at first seemed so 
great, now dwindled away in our opinion to nothing. Fal- 
conhurst, we decided, should be kept up merely as a summer 
residence. Our cave should be formed into a winter 
house and impregnable castle. 

Our attention was now fully occupied with this new house. 
Light and air were to be admitted. So we hewed a row of 
windows in the rock, where we fitted the window cases we 
had brought from the officers’ cabins. We brought the 
door, too, from Falconhurst, and fitted it in the aperture 
we had made. The cave itself we divided into four parts: 
in front, a large compartment into which the door opened, 
subdivided into our sitting, eating, and sleeping apartments; 
the right-hand division containing our kitchen and work- 
shop, and the left our stables; behind all this, in the dark 
recesses of the cave, was our storehouse and powder maga- 
zine. 

We contrived a properly built fireplace and chimney. 
Our stable arrangements, too, were better. Plenty of 
space was left in our workshop that we should not be ham- 
pered in even the most extensive operations. We called 
this new home Rock House. 

After finishing Rock House, some time was taken up with 
salting and curing a quantity of herrings, of which a shoal 
had recently visited the island. These labors were scarcely 
completed before we made other grand discoveries. 
Among them the rice and cotton-plants. 

We next turned our attention to building a bark canoe. 

One morning I happened to awake unusually early. I 
turned my thoughts, as I lay waiting for sunrise, to con- 
sidering what length of time we had passed now on this 
coast. To my surprise, I discovered that the very next 


THE SWISS FAMILY TIOEmSON 


51 


day would be the anniversary of our escape from the wreck. 
My heart swelled with gratitude to the gracious God who 
had then granted us deliverance, and ever since had loaded 
us with benefits. I resolved to set to-morrow apart as a 
day of thanksgiving, in joyful celebration of the occasion. 

Everyone was surprised to hear that we had already 
been twelve months in the country. Indeed, my wife be- 
lieved I might be mistaken. I showed her how I had cal- 
culated regularly ever since the 31st of January, on which 
day we were wrecked, by marking off on my almanac the 
Sundays as they arrived for the remaining eleven months 
of that year. 

I desired that the awful events of the shipwreck should 
live in the remembrance of my children with a deepening 
sense of gratitude for our deliverance. Therefore I read 
aloud passages from my journal, as well as many beautiful 
verses from the Psalms, expressive of joyful praise and 
thanksgiving. Even the youngest among us was im- 
pressed and solemnized at the recollections of escape from 
a terrible death, and blessed and praised the name of the 
Lord our Deliverer. 

Dinner followed shortly after this happy service. I 
announced for the afternoon a ‘‘Grand Display of Athletic 
Sports,” in which I and my wife were to be spectators and 
judges. 

“Father, what a grand idea!” 

“Oh, how jolly! Are we to run races 

“And prizes, father.?” 

“The judges offer prizes for competition in every sort of 
manly exercise,” replied I. “Shooting, running, riding, 
leaping, climbing, swimming; we will have an exhibition 
of your skill in all. Now for it!” 

The whole afternoon was thus taken up, and then we re- 
turned to our dwelling, the mother having preceded us in 


52 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


order to make arrangements for the ceremony of prize- 
giving. 

We found her seated in great state, with the prizes set 
out by her side. The boys marched in pretending to play 
various instruments in imitation of a band. Then all 
four, bowing respectfully, stood before her, like the victors 
in a tournament of old, awaiting the reward of valor from 
the Queen of Beauty. She bestowed the prizes with words 
of praise and encouragement. 

Fritz, to his immense delight, received, as a reward for 
excellence in shooting and swimming, a splendid double- 
barreled rifle, and a beautiful hunting-knife. 

To Ernest, as winner of the running match, was given a 
handsome gold watch. 

For climbing and riding. Jack had a pair of silver-plated 
spurs, and a riding whip. 

Franz received a pair of stirrups, and a driving whip 
made of rhinocerous hide, which we thought would be of use 
to him as he was now training a young bull calf. 

When the ceremony was supposed to be over, I advanced, 
and solemnly presented to my wife a lovely work-box, 
filled with every imaginable requirement for a lady’s work- 
table, which she accepted with equal surprise and delight. 

The whole entertainment afforded the boys intense pleas- 
ure. Their spirits rose to such a pitch, that nothing would 
serve them but another salvo of artillery, in order to close 
with befitting dignity and honor so great a day. They 
gave me no peace till they had leave to squander some 
gunpowder. Then at last their excited feelings seeming 
relieved, we were able to sit down to supper; shortly after- 
ward, we joined in family worship and retired to rest. 


CHAPTER VIIL 

F ive months sped rapidly by. The interior arrange- 
ments of the cavern were well under way. I now applied 
myself to the making of an aqueduct, that fresh water 
might be led close up to our cave. It was a long way to 
Jackal River, and especially inconvenient on washing days. 
As I wanted to do this before the rainy season began, I set 
about it at once. 

Pipes of hollow bamboo answered the purpose well. A 
large cask formed the reservoir. The supply was good, and 
the comfort of having it close at hand so great, that the 
mother declared she was as well pleased with our engineer- 
ing as if we had made her a fountain and marble basin 
adorned with mermaids and dolphins. 

The rainy season was near at hand. I pressed forward 
all work connected with stores for our southern winter. 
Great was the in-gathering of roots, fruits and grain, po- 
tatoes, rice, guavas, sweet acorns, pine-cones. Load after 
load arrived at the cavern. Mother’s active needle was in 
constant requisition, as the demand for more sacks and bags 
was incessant. 

The weather became very unsettled and stormy. Heavy 
clouds gathered in the horizon and passing storms of wind, 
with thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain swept over the 
face of nature from time to time. The sea was in frequent 

53 


54 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


commotion; heavy ground SAvells drove masses of water 
hissing and foaming against the cliffs. Everything heralded 
the approaching rains. All nature joined in sounding forth 
the solemn overture to the grandest work of the year. 

It was now near the beginning of the month of June, and 
we had twelve weeks of bad weather before us. 

We established some of the animals with ourselves at the 
salt cave. The boys would ride over to Falconhurst very 
often to see that all was in order there, and fetch anything 
required. 

Much remained to be done in order to give the cave a 
comfortable appearance. This became more desirable now 
that we had to live indoors. The darkness of the inner 
regions annoyed me, and I set myself to invent a remedy. 

After some thought, I called in Jack’s assistance, and we 
got a very tall, strong bamboo, which would reach right up 
to the vaulted roof. This we planted in the earthen floor, 
securing well by driving wedges in round it. Jack ascended 
this pole very cleverly, taking with him a hammer and chisel 
to enlarge a crevice in the roof so as to fix a pulley, by means 
of which, when he descended, I drew up a large ship’s lantern, 
well supplied with oil, and as there were four wicks, it afforded 
a very fair amount of light. 

Several days were spent in arranging the different rooms. 

Ernest and Franz undertook the library; they fixed the 
shelves, and set in order the books which we had brought 
from the wreck. 

Jack and his mother took in hand the sitting-room and 
kitchen. Fritz and I, as better able for heavy work, ar- 
ranged the workshops. The carpenter’s bench, the turning 
lathe, and a large chest of tools were set in convenient places, 
and many tools and instruments hung on the walls. 

An adjoining chamber was fitted up as a forge, with fire- 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


55 


place, bellows, and anvil, complete, all which we had found 
in the ship, packed together, and ready to set up. 

When these great affairs were settled, we still found in all 
directions work to be done. Shelves, tables, benches, 
movable steps, cupboards, pegs, door handles, and bolts — 
there seemed no end to our requirements. We often thought 
of the enormous amount of work necessary to maintain the 
comforts and conveniences of life which at home we had 
received as a matter of course. 

In reality, the more there was to do the better. I never 
ceased devising fresh improvements, being fully aware of the 
importance of constant employment as a means of strengthen- 
ing and maintaining the health of mind and body. This, in- 
deed, with a consciousness of continual progress toward a 
desirable end, is found to constitute the main element of 
happiness. 

Ernest and Franz were highly successful as librarians. 
The books, when unpacked and arranged, proved to be a 
most valuable collection, capable of affording every sort of 
educational advantage. 

Besides a variety of books of voyages, travels, divinity, 
and natural history (several containing fine colored illustra- 
tions), there were histories and scientific works, as well as 
standard fiction in several languages; also a good assortment 
of maps, charts, mathematical and astronomical instruments, 
and an excellent pair of globes. 

I foresaw much interesting study on discovering that we 
possessed the grammars and dictionaries of a great many 
languages, a subject for which we all had a taste. With 
French we were well acquainted. Fritz and Ernest had 
begun to learn English at school, and made further progress 
during a visit to England. The mother, who had once been 
intimate with a Dutch family, could speak that language 
pretty well. 


56 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


After a great deal of discussion, we agreed to study differ- 
ent languages, so that in the event of meeting with people 
of other nations there should be at least one of the family 
able to communicate with them. All determined to improve 
our knowledge of German and French. 

The two elder boys were to study English and Dutch with 
their mother. Ernest, already possessing considerable knowl- 
edge of Latin, wished to continue to study it, so as to be able 
to make use of the many works on natural history and medi- 
cine written in that language. Jack announced that he 
meant to learn Spanish, ‘‘because it sounded so grand and 
imposing.’’ I myself was interested in the Malay language, 
knowing it to be so widely spoken in the islands of the Eastern 
Seas, and thinking it as likely as any other to be useful to us. 

Our family circle by-and-by represented Babel in minia- 
ture, for scraps and fragments of all these tongues kept buzz- 
ing about our ears from morning to night, each sporting his 
newly-acquired word or sentence on every possible occasion, 
propounding idioms and peculiar expressions like riddles to 
puzzle the rest. 

Occasionally we amused ourselves by opening chests and 
packages hitherto untouched, and brought unexpected treas- 
ures to light — mirrors, wardrobes, a pair of tables with pol- 
ished marble tops, writing-tables and handsome chairs, 
clocks of various descriptions, a musical box and a chrono- 
meter were found. By degrees our abode was fitted up like 
a palace, so that sometimes we wondered at ourselves, and 
felt as though we were strutting about in borrowed plumes. 

The weeks of imprisonment passed so rapidly that no one 
found time hang heavy on his hands. 

Books occupied me so much that but little carpentering 
was done. Yet I made a yoke for the oxen, a pair of cotton 
wool carders, and a spinning wheel for my wife. 

The uproar of the elements came to an end at last. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


57 


Nature resumed her attitude of repose, her smiling aspect 
of peaceful beauty. Soon all traces of the ravages of floods 
and storms would disappear beneath the luxuriant vegeta- 
tion of the tropics. 

We gladly quit the sheltering walls of Rock House, or 
Rockburg as we now called it, to roam in the open 
air. We crossed Jackal River for a walk along 
the coast. Presently Fritz with his sharp eyes observed 
something on the small island near Flamingo Marsh, which 
was, he said, long and rounded, resembling a boat bottom 
upward. 

Examining it with the telescope, I could form no other 
conjecture. We resolved to make it the object of an ex- 
cursion next day, being delighted to resume our old habit 
of starting in pursuit of adventure. 

The object proved to be a huge stranded whale. 

The island being steep and rocky, it was necessary to be 
careful, but we found a landing place on the further side. 
The boys hurried by the nearest way to the beach, where 
lay the monster of the deep, while I clambered to the highest 
point of the islet, which commanded a view of the mainland 
from Rockburg to Falconhurst. 

On rejoining my sons, I found them only half way to the 
great fish, and as I drew near they shouted in high glee: 

‘‘Oh! father, just look at the glorious shells and coral 
branches we are finding. How does it happen that there 
are such quantities 

“Only consider how the recent storms have stirred the 
ocean to its depths! No doubt thousands of shell-fish 
have been detached from their rocks and dashed in all 
directions by the waves, which have thrown ashore even 
so huge a creature as the whale yonder.” 

“Is coral of any use?” demanded Jack suddenly. 

“In former times it was pounded and used by chemists, 


58 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


but it is now chiefly used for ornaments, and made into 
beads for necklaces, etc. As such it is greatly prized by 
savages, and were we to fall in with natives, we might 
very possibly find a store of coral useful in bartering with 
them. For the present we will arrange these treasures of 
the deep in our library, and make them the beginning of 
a Museum of Natural History, which will aflPord us equal 
pleasure and instruction.’’ 

Dinner was quickly dispatched, and preparations for 
cutting up the whale set on foot. 

The more oil we could obtain the better, for a great deal 
was used in the large lantern which burnt day and night 
in the recesses of the cave. Therefore all available casks 
and barrels were pressed into service. Many, of course, 
once full of pickled herrings, potted pigeons, and other 
winter stores were now empty, and we took a goodly fleet 
of these in tow. 

The whale’s enormous size quite startled my wife and 
little boy. The length was from sixty to sixty-five feet, and 
the girth between thirty and forty. The weight could not 
have been less than 50,000 lbs. The color was a uniform 
velvety black. The enormous head was about one-third 
of the length of the entire bulk, the eyes quite small, not 
much larger than those of an ox, and ears almost undis- 
cernible. 

The jaw opened very far back, and was nearly sixteen 
feet in length. The most curious part was the so-called 
whalebone, masses of which appeared ail along the jaws, 
solid at the base, and splitting into a sort of fringe at the 
end. This arrangement is for the purpose of aiding the 
whale in procuring its food, and separating it from the 
water. The tongue was remarkably large, soft, and full 
of oil. The opening of the throat was scarcely two inches 
in diameter. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


59 


‘‘And now, boys, fasten on your sharkskin buskins, and 
let me see if you can face the work of climbing this slippery 
mountain of flesh and cutting it up/’ 

Fritz and Jack stripped, and went to work directly, 
scrambling over the back to the head. They assisted me 
to cut away the lips so as to reach the whalebone, a large 
quantity of which was detached and carried to the boat. 

Ernest labored manfully at the creature’s side, cutting 
out slabs of bubber while his mother and Franz helped as 
well as they could to put it into casks. 

It was nearly time to leave the island. I stripped off* a 
long piece of the skin, to be used for traces, harness, and other 
leather work. It was about three-quarters of an inch thick, 
and very soft and oily, but I knew it would shrink and be 
tough and durable. 

I also took a part of the gums in which the roots of the 
baleen or whalebone was still embedded, having read that 
this is considered quite a delicacy, as well as the skin, which, 
when properly dressed and cut in little cubes, like black 
dice, has been compared, by enthusiastic and probably 
very hungry travellers, to cocoanut and cream-cheese. 
The boys thought the tongue might prove equally palatable, 
but I valued it only on account of the large quantity of oil 
it contained. 

With a heavy freight we put to sea, and made what haste 
we could to reach home, and cleanse our persons from the 
unpleasant traces of the disgusting work in which we had 
spent the day. 

Next morning we started at dawn. 

My wife and Franz were left behind. Our proposed 
work was even more horrible than that of the preceding day. 
They could not assist, and had no inclination to witness it. 
It was my intention to open the carcass completely, and to 
obtain various portions of the intestines. My idea was that 


60 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


it would be possible to convert the larger ones into vessels 
fit for holding the oil. 

“There are countries,” I said, “where no wood grows 
of which to make barrels, and no hemp for thread, string 
and cordage. Necessity, the mother of all the more valu- 
able inventions,has taught the inhabitants of those countries, 
Greenlanders, Esquimaux, and others, to think of substi- 
tutes, and they use the intestines of the whale for one pur- 
pose, the sinews and nerves for the other.” 

The blubber was afterward boiled in a cauldron over a 
fire kindled at some distance from our abode. By skimming 
and straining through a coarse cloth we succeeded in ob- 
taining a large supply of excellent train-oil. This was 
gathered in casks, and bags made of the intestines, and 
safely stowed away in the “cellar,” as the children called 
our roughest store-room. This day’s work was far from 
agreeable. The dreadful smell oppressed us all, more 
especially my poor wife. She very urgently recommended 
that the new island should be the headquarters for another 
colony, where, she said, “any animals we leave would be 
safe from apes and other plunderers, and where you would 
find it so very convenient to boil whale-blubber, strain 
train-oil, and the like.” 

This proposal met with hearty approval, especially from 
the boys, who were always charmed with any new plan. They 
were eager to act upon it at once. I reminded them of 
the putrefying carcass which lay there. They confessed 
it would be better to allow v/ind and storms, birds and in- 
sects to do their work in purging the atmosphere, and re- 
ducing the whale to a skeleton before we revisited the 
island. 

The idea of a rowing machine now kept recurring to my 
brain. I determined to attempt to make one. 

I took an iron bar, which when laid across the middle of 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


61 


the boat, projected about a foot each way. I provided 
this bar in the middle with ribbed machinery, and at each 
end with a sort of nave, in which, as in a cart-wheel, four 
flat spokes, or paddles, were fixed obliquely. These were 
intended to do the rowers’ part. 

Then a mechanical jack was arranged to act upon the 
machinery in the middle of the iron cross-bar in such a 
way that one of its strong cogwheels bit firmly into the ribs, 
so that when it was wound up it caused the bar to revolve 
rapidly, of course turning with it the paddles fixed at either 
end, which consequently struck the water so as to propel 
the boat. 

Although this contrivance left much to be desired in the 
way of improvement, still when Fritz and I wound up the 
machinery, and went off on a trail trip across the bay, we 
splashed along at a famous rate. The shores rang with 
the cheers and clapping of the whole family, delighted to 
behold what they considered my brilliant success. We went 
back and took the whole family on board, and, aided by a 
light breeze, directed our course toward Whale Island. 

On landing I began at once to plant some saplings we had 
brought. The boys assisted me for a while, but wearied 
somewhat of the occupation, and one after another went off 
to look at the whale’s skeleton or in search of shells and coral, 
leaving their mother and me to finish the work. 

Presently I heard a voice shouting loudly: “Father, 
father! a great enormous turtle! Please make haste. It is 
waddling back to the sea as hard as it can go, and we can’t 
stop it.” 

I sprang down the bank, and, making use of the oar as a 
lever, we succeeded with some difficulty in turning the creature 
on its back. It was a huge specimen, fully eight feet long, 
and being now quite helpless, we left it sprawling. 


62 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


It soon was decided that the turtle must swim home. I 
fastened an empty water-cask to a long line, one end of which 
was made fast to the bow of the boat, the other carefully 
passed round the neck and fore-paws of the creature. He 
was then lifted, so as to let him regain his feet. He instantly 
made for the water, plunged in, the cask floated after him 
and prevented his sinking. We were all on board in a 
moment. The worthy fellow, after vainly attempting to 
dive, set himself diligently to swim right forward, towing us 
comfortably after him. I was ready to cut the line on the 
least appearance of danger, and kept him on the course for 
Safety Bay by striking the water with a boat-hook, right or 
left, according as the turtle was disposed to turn too much 
one way or the other. The boys were delighted with the 
fun, and compared me to Neptune in his car, drawn by 
dolphins, and accompanied by Amphitrite and attendant 
Tritons. 

We landed safely at the usual place, near Rockburg, and 
the turtle was condemned and executed soon afterward; the 
shell, which was quite eight feet long and three broad, was, 
when cleaned and prepared, to form a trough for the water 
supply at the cave, and the meat was carefully salted and 
stored up for many a good and savory meal. 


CHAPTER IX. 

I WAS seated one day with my wife and Fritz beneath the 
shade of the veranda of Rockburg, engaged in wick- 
erwork, and chatting pleasantly. Suddenly Fritz got 
up, advanced a step or two, and gazing fixedly along the 
avenue which led from Jackal River, he exclaimed: 

“I see something strange in the distance! What in the 
world can it be First it seems to be drawn in coils on the 
ground like a cable, then uprises as it were a little mast, then 
that sinks and the coils move along again. It is coming 
towards the bridge.^’ 

My wife took alarm at this description, and calling the 
other boys, retreated into the cave. I asked them to close up 
the entrances, and keep watch with firearms at the upper 
windows. These were openings we had made in the rock 
at some elevation, reached within by steps, and a kind of 
gallery which passed along the front of the rooms. 

Fritz remained by me while I examined the object through 
my spyglass. 

“It is, as I feared, an enormous serpent!’’ cried I; ‘‘it 
advances directly this way, and we shall be placed in the 
greatest possible danger, for it will cross the bridge to a cer- 
tainty. Thank God we are here, where we can keep in safe 
retreat while we watch for an opportunity to destroy this 
frightful enemy. Go up to your mother now and assist in 

63 


64 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


preparing the firearms; I will join you directly, but I must 
further observe the monster’s movements.” 

Fritz left me unwillingly. I continued to watch the ser- 
pent, which was of gigantic size, and already much too near 
the bridge to admit of the possibility of removing that means 
of access to our dwelling. I recollected, too, how easy it 
would pass through the walls. The reptile advanced with 
writhing and undulatory movements. From time to time 
it reared its head to the height of fifteen or twenty feet, and 
slowly turned it about, as though on the look-out for prey.” 

As it crossed the bridge, with a slow, suspicious motion, I 
withdrew, and hastily rejoined my little party. We pre- 
pared to garrison our fortress in warlike array. We 
placed ourselves at the upper openings. 

After strongly barricading everything below ourselves, 
unseen, we awaited with beating hearts the further advance 
of the foe, which speedily became visible to us. 

Its movements appeared to become uncertain, as though 
puzzled by the trace of human habitation; it turned in differ- 
ent directions, coiling and uncoiling, and frequently rearing 
its head, but keeping about the middle of the space in front 
of the cave. Suddenly, as though unable to resist doing so, 
one after another the boys fired, and even their mother dis- 
charged her gun. The shots took not the slightest effect 
beyond startling the monster, whose movements were accele- 
rated. Fritz and I also fired with steadier aim, but with the 
same want of success. The monster, passing on with a 
gliding motion, entered the reedy marsh to the left and 
entirely disappeared. 

A wonderful weight seemed lifted from our hearts, while 
all eagerly discussed the vast length and awful though mag- 
nificent appearance of the serpent. I had recognized it as 
the boa constrictor. It was a vast specimen, upward of 
thirty feet in length. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


65 


The near neighborhood of this terrific reptile occasioned 
me the utmost anxiety. I asked that no one should leave 
the house on any pretence whatever without my express 
permission. 

During three whole days we were kept in suspense and 
fear. We did not dare to stir above a few hundred steps 
from the door, although during all that time the enemy 
showed no sign of his presence. 

We began to think the boa had passed across the swamp, 
and found his way by some cleft or chasm through the wall 
of cliffs beyond. On the third day the restless behavior of 
our geese and ducks gave proof that he still lurked in the 
thicket of reeds which they were accustomed to make their 
nightly resting-place. They swam anxiously about, and 
finally taking wing, they crossed the harbor and took up 
their quarters on Shark Island. 

My embarrassment increased as time passed on. I could 
not venture to attack with insufficient force a monstrous and 
formidable serpent concealed in dense thickets amidst dan- 
gerous swamps. Yet it was dreadful to live in a state of 
blockade, cut off from all the important duties in which we 
were engaged, and shut up with our animals in the unnatural 
light of the cave, enduring constant anxiety and perturbation. 

Out of this painful state we were at last delivered by none 
other than our good old simple-hearted donkey, out of sheer 
stupidity. My wife having one morning opened the door, 
old Grizzle, who was fresh and frolicsome after the long rest 
and regular feeding, suddenly broke away from the halter, 
cut some awkward capers, then bolting out, careered at full 
gallop straight for the marsh. 

In vain we called him by name. Fritz would even have 
rushed after him, had not I held him back. In another 
moment the ass was close to the thicket, and with the cold 
shudder of horror, we beheld the snake rear itself from its 


66 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


lair, the fiery eyes glanced around, the dark, deadly jaws 
opened widely, the forked tongue darted greedily forth — 
poor Grizzle’s fate was sealed. 

Becoming aware on a sudden of his danger, he stopped 
short, spread out all four legs, and set up the most piteous 
and discordant bray that ever wrung echo from rocks. 

Swift and straight at a fencer’s thrust, the destroyer was 
upon him, wound round him, entangled, enfolded, com- 
pressed him, all the while cunningly avoiding the convulsive 
kicks of the agonized animal. A cry of horror arose from 
the spectators of this miserable tragedy. 

“Shoot him, father! oh, shoot him — do save poor Grizzle!” 

“My children, it is impossible!” cried I. “Our old friend 
is lost to us forever! I have hopes, however, that when 
gorged with his prey we may be able to attack the snake with 
some chance of success.” 

“But the horrible wretch is never going to swallow him 
all at once, father .f*” cried Jack. 

“Snakes have no grinders, but only fangs, therefore they 
cannot chew their food, and must swallow it whole.” 

“ It seems utterly impossible that the broad ribs, the strong 
legs, hoofs and all, should go down that throat,” exclaimed 
Fritz. 

“Only see,” I replied, “how the monster deals with his 
victim. Closer and more tightly he curls his crushing folds. 
The bones give way. He is kneading him into a shapeless 
mass. He will soon begin to gorge his prey, and slowly but 
surely it will disappear down that distended maw!” 

The mother, with Franz, found the scene all too horrible, 
and hastened into the cave, trembling and distressed. 

To the rest of us there seemed a fearful fascination in the 
dreadful sight, and we could not move from the spot. I 
expected that the boa before swallowing his prey, would 
cover it with saliva, to aid in the operation. It was evident 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


67 


to us, however, that this popular idea was erroneous. The 
act of lubricating the mass must have taken place during the 
process of swallowing; certainly nothing was applied before- 
hand. 

This wonderful performance lasted from seven in the 
morning until noon. When the awkward morsel was entirely 
swallowed, the serpent lay stiff, distorted, and apparently 
insensible along the edge of the marsh. 

I felt that now or never was the moment for attack ! 

Calling on my sons to maintain their courage and presence 
of mind, I left our retreat with a feeling of joyous emotion 
quite new to me, and approached with rapid steps, and lev- 
elled gun the outstretched form of the serpent. Fritz followed 
me closely. Jack, somewhat timidly, came several paces 
behind; while Ernest, after a little hesitation, remained where 
he was. 

The monster’s body was stiff and motionless, which made 
its rolling and fiery eyes, and the slow, spasmodic undula- 
tions of its tail more fearful by contrast. 

We fired together, and both balls entered the skull. The 
light of the eye was extinguished. The only movement was 
in the further extremity of the body, which rolled, writhed, 
coiled, and lashed from side to side. 

Advancing closer, we fired our pistols directly into its head. 
A convulsive quiver ran through the mighty frame. The boa 
constrictor lay dead. 

“ I hope the terrible noise you made just now was the signal 
of victory,” said my wife, drawing near with the utmost cir- 
cumspection, and holding Franz tightly by the hand. “I 
was half afraid to come, I assure you.” 

‘‘See this dreadful creature dead at our feet; and let us 
thank God that we have been able to destroy such an enemy.” 

My wife having gone to prepare dinner we continued 
talking as we rested in the shade of some rocks, near the ser- 


68 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


pent, for a considerable time. The open air was welcome 
to us after our long imprisonment. We were, besides, de- 
sirous to drive off any birds of prey who might be attracted 
to the carcass, which we wished to preserve entire. 

My boys questioned me closely on the subject of serpents 
in general. I described to them the action of the poison 
fangs; how they folded back on the sides of the upper jaw; 
and how the poison-secreting glands and reservoir are found 
at the back and sides of the head, giving to the venomous 
serpents that peculiar width of head which is so familiar a 
characteristic. 

“The fangs are hollow,” said I, “and when the creatures 
bite, the pressure forces down a tiny drop of the liquid 
poison, which enters the wound, and, through the veins, 
quickly spreads over the entire system. Sometimes, if taken 
in time, cures are effected, but in most cases the bite of a 
serpent is followed by speedy death.” 

“What is the best thing to be done for the bite of a serpent ?’ 
inquired Fritz. 

“Remedies are very various, very uncertain, and differ 
with the species inflicting the bite. Suction, ammonia, oil, 
the use of the knife, application of fresh mould, lunar caustic, 
leaves of certain plants, all these and more are mentioned. 

“A mode of cure adopted by the natives of India, Ceylon, 
and parts of Africa, is by the application of a remarkable 
object called snake-stone. These are described as flattish, 
something like an almond with squared ends,* rather light, 
bearing a very high polish, and of an intense jetty black. 

“On being bitten by a cobra, the sufferer applies one of 
these ‘stones’ to each puncture, where they adhere strongly 
for a time, five or six minutes being about the average. They 
seem to absorb the blood as it flows from the wound, and at 
last fall off, when the danger is considered to be over.” 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


69 


‘^Come, Ernest, can you not give us an epitaph for our 
unfortunate friend, the donkey?’’ 

Ernest took the matter quite seriously, and planting his 
elbows on his knees, he beat his thoughtful brow in his hands, 
and remained wrapped in poetic meditation for about two 
minutes. 

‘‘I have it,” cried he, ‘‘but perhaps you will all laugh at 
me ?” 

“Ho, no, don’t be shy, old fellow; spit it out!” and thus 
encouraged by his brother, Ernest, with the blush of a modest 
author, began: 

“ Beneath this stone poor Grizzle’s bones are laid, 

A faithful ass he was, and loved by all. 

At length, his master’s voice he disobeyed. 

And thereby came his melancholy fall. 

A monstrous serpent springing from the grass. 

Seized, crushed, and swallowed him before our eyes. 
But we, though yet we mourn our honest ass. 

Are grateful; for he thereby saved the lives 
Of all the human beings on this shore — 

A father, mother, and their children four.” 

“Hurrah for the epitaph! Well done, Ernest!” resounded 
on all sides, and taking out a large red pencil I used for mark- 
ing wood, the lines were forthwith inscribed on a great flat 
stone, being, as I told the boy, the very best poetry that had 
ever been written on our coast. 

We then had dinner and afterward went to work with the 
serpent. 

The first operation was to recover the mangled remains 
of the ass, which being eflFected, he was buried in the soft 
marshy ground close by, and the hole filled up with the 
fragments of rock. 


70 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


Then we yoked Storm and Grumble to the serpent, 
and dragged it to a convenient distance from Rockburg, 
where the process of skinning, stuffing, and sewing up 
again afforded occupation of the deepest interest to the 
boys for several days. 

We took great pains to coil it round a pole in the museum, 
arranging the head with the jaws wide open, so as to look 
as alarming as possible, and contriving to make the eye 
and tongue sufficiently well to represent nature; in fact, 
our dogs never passed the monster without growling, and 
must have wondered at our taste in keeping such a pet. 

Over the entrance leading to the museum and library 
were inscribed these words: 


NO ADMITTANCE FOR ASSES. 


CHAPTER X. 


I T was most important to ascertain whether any other 
serpent lurked among the woods of our little territory 
between the cliffs and the sea. Preparations were 
set on foot for a search throughout the country beyond the 
river, as far as the Gap. I wished all the family to go on 
the expedition, a decision which gave universal satisfaction. 

Intending to be engaged in this search for several weeks, 
we took the small tent and a store of all sorts of necessary 
provisions, as well as firearms, tools, cooking utensils, and 
torches. 

All these thing were packed on the cart, which was drawn 
by the buffalo and the bull. Storm and Grumble. Jack and 
Franz mounted them, and acted at once the part of riders 
and drivers. My wife sat comfortably in the cart, Fritz 
rode in advance, while Ernest and I walked. We were 
protected in flank by the dogs and Fangs, our tame jackal. 

Fritz, Jack, and Franz presently diverged with me to the 
sugar-cane brake, and satisfied ourselves that our enemy 
had not been there. It was long since we had enjoyed 
the fresh juice of these canes. We were refreshing ourselves 
therewith, when a loud barking of dogs, and loud rustling 
and rattling through the thicket of canes, disturbed our 
pleasant occupation^ We could see nothing a yard off from 


72 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


where we stood. I hurried to the open ground, and with 
the guns in readiness we awaited what was coming. 

In a few minutes a herd of creatures like little pigs issued 
from the thicket, and made off in single file at a brisk trot. 
They were of a uniform grey color, and showed short sharp 
tusks. 

My trusty double-barrel speedily laid low two of the 
fugitives. The others continued to follow their leader in 
line, scarcely turning aside to pass the dead bodies of their 
comrades, and maintaining the same steady pace, although 
Fritz and Jack also fired and killed several. 

I felt certain that these were peccaries. I remembered 
that an odoriferous gland in the back must be removed im- 
mediately, otherwise the meat will become tainted, and 
quite unfit to eat. This operation, with the help of my 
boys, I accordingly performed at once. 

I determined to cure a good supply of hams, so we made 
haste to load the cart. The boys adorned it with flowers 
and green boughs, and with songs of triumph which made 
the woods ring they conveyed the valuable supply of game 
to the hut we had made hard by on a former occasion. 
There mother was anxiously waiting for us. 

After dinner we set to work upon our pigs, singeing and 
scalding off* the bristles. I cut out the hams and diligently 
cleansed and salted the meat. The boys meanwhile pre- 
pared a shed, where it was to be hung to be cured in the 
smoke of fires and green wood. 

This unexpected business of course detained us for some 
time. On the second day, when the smoking shed was 
ready, the boys were anxious to cook the smallest porker 
in the Otaheitian fashion. For this purpose they dug a 
hole, in which they burned a quantity of dry grass, sticks, 
and weeds, heating stones, which were placed round the 
sides of the pit. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


73 


While the younger boys made ready the oven, Fritz 
singed and washed his peccary. We stuffed it with potatoes, 
onions, and herbs, and a good sprinkling of salt and pepper. 
He then sewed up the opening, and enveloped the pig in 
large leaves to guard it from the ashes and dust of its cooking- 
place. 

The fire no longer blazed, but the embers and stones 
were glowing hot. The pig was carefully placed in the 
hole, covered over with hot ashes, and the whole with earth, 
so that it looked like a big mole heap. 

Dinner was looked forward to with curiosity. Great 
excitement prevailed as Fritz removed the earth, turf, and 
stones, and a delicious appetizing odor arose from the 
opening. It was the smell of roast pork, certainly, but with 
a flavor of spices which surprised me, until I thought of 
the leaves in which the food had been wrapped up. These 
proved to belong to a tree which I knew to be found in Mada- 
gascar, called by the natives ravensara, or ‘‘good leaf.’’ It 
is said to combine the scent of the nutmeg, clove, and cin- 
namon. 

When all was in readiness for the prosecution of our 
journey, we closed and barricaded the hut, in which, for 
the present, we left the store of bacon. Arranging our 
march in the usual patriarchal style, we took our way to 
the Gap, the thorough defence of which defile was the 
main object we had in view. 

We halted on the outskirts of a little wood, behind which, 
to the right, rose the precipitous and frowning cliffs of the 
mountain gorge, while to the left flowed the torrent, leav- 
ing between it and the rocks the narrow pass we called the 
Gap, and passing onward to mingle its water with the sea. 
We pitched the tent, and then occupied ourselves with prepa- 
rations for the next day, when it was my intention to pene- 
trate the country beyond the defile, and make a longer ex- 


74 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 

cursion across the savannah than had yet been under- 
taken. 

All was ready for a start at an early hour. My brave 
wife consented to remain in camp with Franz as her com- 
panion. The three elder boys, and all the dogs except 
Juno went with me. 

Our march proceeded slowly. Many were the uncom- 
plimentary remarks made on the “new country.” 

It was “Arabia Petrea,” groaned one. “Desert of 
Sahara,” sighed another. “Fit abode for demons,” mut- 
tered a third. “Subterranean volcanic fires are raging 
beneath our feet.” 

“Patience, my good fellows!” cried I; ‘‘you are too easily 
discouraged. Look beyond the toilsome way to those grand 
mountains, whose spurs are already stretching forward to 
meet us. Who knows what pleasant memories await us 
amid their deep declivities ? I, for my part, expect to find 
water, fresh grass, trees, and a lovely resting-place.” 

We were all glad to repose beneath the shade of the first 
over-hanging rock we came to, although, by pressing further 
upward, we might have attained to a pleasanter spot. When 
hunger was somewhat appeased, Fritz cast his eyes over 
the expanse of plain before us, and after looking fixedly 
for a moment, exclaimed: 

“Is it possible that I see a party of horsemen riding at 
full gallop toward us! Can they be wild Arabs of the 
desert ?” 

“Arabs, my boy! certainly not; but take the spyglass and 
make them out exactly. We shall have to be on our guard, 
whatever they are!” 

“ I cannot see distinctly enough to be sure,” said he pres- 
ently; “I could fancy them wild cattle, loaded carts, wand- 
ering haystacks, in fact, almost anything I like.” 

The spyglass passed from hand to hamSf. Jack and 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


75 


Ernest agreed in thinking the moving objects were men on 
horseback. When it came to my turn to look, I at once pro- 
nounced them to be very large ostriches. 

‘‘This is fortunate, indeed!’’ I exclaimed; “we must try 
to secure one of these magnificent birds. The feathers alone 
are worth having.” 

“A live ostrich, father! that would be splendid. Why, 
we might ride upon him!” 

As the ostriches approached, we began to consider in what 
way we should attempt a capture. I sent Fritz and Jack to 
recall the dogs, and placed myself with Ernest behind some 
shrub which would conceal us from the birds as they came 
onward. 

“ I do not believe we shall have a chance with these birds,” 
said I, “except by sending Fritz’s tame eagle in pursuit; and 
for that we must bide our time, and let them come as near as 
possible.” 

We had the dogs concealed as much as possible. The 
stately birds suddenly perceiving us, paused, hesitated, and 
appeared uneasy. Yet, as no movement was made, they drew 
nearer, with outstretched necks, examining curiously the 
unwonted spectacle before them. 

The dogs became impatient, struggled from our grasp, 
and furiously rushed toward our astonished visitors. In an 
instant they would have been beyond our reach, but as they 
turned to fly the eagle was unhooded. Singling out the male 
bird the falcon made his fatal swoop, and, piercing the skull, 
the magnificent creature was laid low. Before we could reach 
the spot the dogs had joined the bird of prey, and were 
fiercely tearing the flesh and bedabbling the splendid plumes 
with gore. 

This sight grieved us. 

“What a pity we could not capture the glorious bird alive!” 
exclaimed Fritz, as we took its beautiful feathers. “It must 


76 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


I am sure, have stood more than six feet high, and two of us 
might have mounted him at once! But what does Jack 
mean by waving his cap and beckoning in that excited fash- 
ion ? What has he found, I wonder 1^^ 

He ran a little way toward us, exclaiming: 

“Eggs, father! Ostriches’ eggs! A huge nest full — do 
come, quick!” 

We all hastened to the spot, and in a slight hollow of the 
ground beheld more than twenty eggs, as large as an infant’s 
head. 

The idea of carrying more than two away with us was 
preposterous, although the boys, forgetting what the weight 
would be, seriously contemplated clearing the nest. 

They were satisfied when a kind of landmark had been set 
up, so that if we returned we might easily find the nest. 

As each egg weighed about three pounds, the boys soon 
found the burden considerable, even when tied into a hand- 
kerchief and carried like a basket. To relieve them, I cut 
a strong elastic heath stick, and suspending an egg in its 
sling at each end, laid the bent stick over Jack’s shoulder, 
and like a Dutch dairy-maid with her milk pails, he stepped 
merrily along without inconvenience. 

We presently reached a marshy place. The soft ground 
was trodden and marked by the footsteps of many different 
sorts of animals. We saw tracks of buffaloes, antelopes, 
onagers or quaggas, but no trace whatever of any kind of 
serpent. Our journey in search of monster reptiles was 
signalized by very satisfactory failure. 

By sunset we reached the tent, and joyfully rejoined the 
mother and Franz, right glad to find a hearty meal prepared 
for us, as well as a large heap of brushwood for the watch-fire. 

When a full account of our adventures had been given, 
mother related what she had done during our absence. She 
and Franz had made their way through the wood up to the 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


77 


rocks behind it, and discovered a bed of pure white clay, 
which it seemed to her might be used for making porcelain. 
Then she had contrived a drinking trough for the cattle out 
of a split bamboo. 

She had arranged a hearth in a sheltered place by building 
up large stones, cemented with the white clay. Finally, she 
had cut a quantity of canes and brought them, on the cart, 
to be in readiness for the building we had in hand. 


CHAPTER XL 

A t early dawn I aroused the boys, and with two dogs 
we galloped off — first to visit some euphorbia trees 
to collect the gum, and then to discover whether 
th ostrich had deserted her eggs in the sand. 

Our steeds carried us down the Green Valley at a rapid 
rate, and we followed the direction we had pursued on our 
former expedition. We soon reached Turtle Marsh, and 
then, filling our water-flasks, we arrived at the rising ground 
where Fritz discovered the “mounted Arabs.’’ 

Jack and Franz were some distance beyond us, when sud- 
denly four magnificent ostriches rose from the sand where 
they had been sitting. 

The boys perceived them, and with a great shout, drove 
them toward us. In front ran a splendid male bird, his 
feathers of shining black, and his great tail plume waving 
behind. Three females of an ashen grey color followed him. 
They approached us with incredible swiftness, and were 
within gunshot before they perceived us. Fritz had had the 
forethought to bind up the beak of his eagle so that should 
he bring down an ostrich, he might be unable to injure it. 

He threw up the falcon which, towering upward, swooped 
down upon the head of the foremost bird, and so confused 
and alarmed him, that he could not defend himself nor con- 

78 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


79 


tinue the fight. So greatly was his speed checked that Jack 
overtook him, and hurling his lasso, enfolded his wings and 
legs in its deadly coils and brought him to the ground. The 
other ostriches were almost out of sight, so leaving them to 
their own devices, we leaped from our steeds and attempted 
to approach the captured bird. He struggled fearfully, and 
kicked with such violence, right and left, that I almost des- 
paired of getting him home alive. 

It occurred to me, however, that if we could cover his eyes, 
his fury might be subdued. I instantly acted upon this idea, 
and flung over his head my coat and hunting-bag, which 
effectually shut out the light. 

No sooner had I done this than his struggles ceased and 
we were able to approach. We first secured round his body 
a broad strip of seal skin, on each side of which I fastened a 
stout piece of cord, that I might be able to lead him easily. 
Then, fastening another cord in a loop round his legs that he 
might be prevented from breaking into a gallop, we released 
him from the coils of the lasso. 

“Do you know,’’ said I to the boys, “how the natives of 
India secure a newly-captured elephant.?” 

“Oh, yes!” said Fritz; “they fasten him between two 
tame elephants. We’ll do that to this fine fellow, and tame 
him double-quick.” 

“The only difficulty will be,” remarked Jack, “that we 
have no tame ostriches. However, I daresay Storm and 
Grumble will have no objection to perform their part, and 
it will puzzle even this great monster to run away with 
them.” 

So we at once began operations. Storm and Grumble 
were led up on either side of the recumbent ostrich, and the 
cords secured to their girths. Jack and Franz, each armed 
with a stout whip, mounted their respectve steeds, the 



He arose with a bound and attempted to dash forward. 




" THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


81 


wrappers were removed from the bird’s eyes, and we stood 
by to watch what would next occur. 

For some moments after the return of his sight he lay 
perfectly still, then he arose with a bound and, not aware 
of the cords which hampered him, attempted to dash for- 
ward. The thongs were stout and he was brought to his 
knees. A fruitless struggle ensued, and then at length, 
seeming to accomodate himself to circumstances, he set off 
at a sharp trot, his guards making the air re-echo with their 
merry shouts. These cries stimulated the ostrich to yet 
further exertions, but he was at length brought to a stand 
by the determined refusal of his four-footed companions to 
continue such a race across loose sand. 

The boys having enjoyed the long run, I told them to 
walk with the prisoner slowly home, while Fritz and I re- 
turned to examine the ostrich’s nest. The eggs were quite 
warm, and I was certain that the mother had quite recently 
left the nest. Leaving about half, I packed the rest of the 
eggs in a large bag I had brought for the purpose, and slung it 
carefully on the saddle before me. We soon caught up our 
advance guard, and without other notable incident reached 
our tent. 

Astonishment and dismay were depicted on the face of 
the mother as we approached. 

“My dear husband,” she exclaimed, “do you think our 
provisions so abundant that you must scour the deserts to 
find some great beast to assist us to devour them. Oh! I 
do wish you would be content with the menagerie you have 
already collected, instead of bringing in a specimen of 
every beast you come across. And this is such a useless 
monster!” 

“Useless! mother,” exclaimed Jack; “you would not 
say so had you seen him run. Why, he will be the 
fleetest courser in our stables. I am going to make a saddle 


82 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


and bridle for him, and in future he shall be my only steed. 
Then as for his appetite, father declares it is most delicate 
he only wants a little fruit and grass, and a few stones and 
nails to help his digestion.” 

At early dawn our picturesque caravan was moving home- 
ward. The ostrich continued so refractory that we were 
obliged to make him again march between Storm and 
Grumble. As these gallant steeds were thus employed, the 
cow was harnessed to the cart, laden with our treasures. 
Room was left in the cart for the mother. Jack and Franz 
mounted Storm and Grumble, I rode Lightfoot, and Fritz 
brought up the rear on Swift. 

Within two days we were once more settled at home. 
Windows and doors were thrown open to admit fresh air, 
the animals established in their stalls, and the cart’s mis- 
cellaneous cargo discharged and arranged. 

As much time as I could spare I devoted to the ostrich, 
whom we fastened, for the present, between two bamboo 
posts in front of our dwelling. 

I then turned my attention to the eggs we had brought, 
and which I determined to hatch, if possible, by artificial 
heat. For this purpose I arranged a stove, which I main- 
tained at a uniform temperature, and on it I placed the 
eggs, carefully wrapped in cotton wool. 

Next morning Fritz and I went off in the boat, first to 
Whale Island, there to establish as our colonists. Angora 
rabbits, and then to Shark Island, where we placed dainty 
little antelopes. Having made them happy with their 
liberty and an abundance of food, we returned. 

We devoted much attention to the ostrich. Our efforts 
on behalf of his education seemed all in vain. He appeared 
as untamable as ever. I determined, therefore, to adopt 
the plan which had subdued Fritz’s eagle, which also had 
proved very refractory when we first tried to tame him. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


83 


The eflPect of the tobacco fumes almost alarmed me. 
The ostrich sank to the ground and lay motionless. Slowly 
at length, he arose, and paced up and down between the 
bamboo posts. 

He was subdued, but to my dismay resolutely refused all 
food. I feared he would die. For three days he pined, 
growing weaker and weaker each day. 

“Food he must have!” said I to my wife. The mother 
determined to attempt an experiment. She prepared balls 
of maize flour mixed with water. One of these she placed 
within the bird’s beak. He swallowed it, and stretched 
out his long neck, looking inquiringly for a second mouthful. 
A second, third, and fourth ball followed the first. His 
appetite returned and his strength came again. 

All the wild nature of the bird had gone. I saw with de- 
light that we might begin his education as soon as we chose. 
Rice, guavas, maize, and corn he ate readily, washing it 
down, as Jack expressed it, with small pebbles, to the great 
surprise of Franz, to whom I explained that the ostrich 
was merely following the instinct common to all birds — ■ 
that he required these pebbles to digest his food, just as 
smaller birds require gravel. 

After a month of careful training our captive would trot, 
gallop, obey the sound of our voice, feed from our hand, 
and, in fact, showed himself perfectly docile. Now our 
ingenuity was taxed to the utmost. How were we to saddle 
and bridle a bird.? First, for a bit for his beak. Vague 
ideas pased through my mind, but every one I was obliged 
to reject. A plan at length occurred to me. I recollected 
the effect of light and its absence upon the ostrich, how his 
movements were checked by sudden darkness, and how, 
with the light, power returned to his limbs. 

I immediately constructed a leathern hood to reach from 


84 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


the neck to the beak, cutting holes in it for the eyes and 
ears. 

Over the eyeholes I contrived square flaps or blinkers, 
which were so arranged with whalebone springs that they 
closed tightly of themselves. The reins were connected 
with these blinkers, so that the flaps might be raised or 
allowed to close at the rider’s pleasure. 

When both blinkers were open the ostrich would gallop 
straight ahead, close his right eye and he turned to the left; 
close his left and he turned to the right; shut both and he 
stood stock-still. 

I was justly proud of my contrivance, but, before I could 
really test its utility, I was obliged to make a saddle. After 
several failures, I succeeded in manufacturing one to my 
liking, and in properly securing it. It was something like 
an old-fashioned trooper’s saddle, peaked before and be- 
hind — for my great fear was lest the boys should fall. This 
curious-looking contrivance I placed upon the shoulders 
as near the neck as possible, and secured it with strong 
girths round the wings and across the breast, to avoid all 
possibility of the saddle slipping down the bird’s sloping 
back. 

I soon saw that my plan would succeed, though skill and 
considerable practice were necessary in one’s use of my patent 
bridle. It was difficult to remember that to check the 
courser’s speed it was necessary to slacken rein, and that 
the tighter the reins were drawn, the faster he would fly. 
We at length, however, all learned to manage Master Hurri- 
cane, and the distance between Rockburg and Falconhurst 
was traversed in an almost incredibly short space of time. 

I now applied myself to the manufacture of porcelain. I 
first cleaned the pipeclay and talc from all foreign substances, 
and made them ready to be beaten down with water into a 
soft mass, and then prepared my moulds of gypsum plaster. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


85 


These preparations were at length made, and the moulds 
received a thin layer of the porcelain material. When this 
was partly baked, I sprinkled over it a powder of colored 
glass beads which I had crushed, and which looked very 
pretty in patterns upon the transparent porcelain. 

Some of my china vessels cracked with the heat of the 
stove, some were very ill-shaped; but, after many failures, I 
succeeded in producing a set of white cups and saucers, a 
cream-jug, a sugar-basin, and half a dozen small plates. 

I must allow that my china was far from perfect. Never- 
theless, the general appearance gave great satisfaction, and 
when the plates were filled with rosy and golden fruit resting 
on green leaves, and fragrant tea filled cups, it greatly added 
to the appearance of the table. 

During the next rainy season, we turned out a very pre- 
sentable and also serviceabler^z/W^, or bark canoe, which was 
destined to be used chiefly by Fritz. It was by means of this 
craft that he one dav was enabled to return with a dead walrus 
in tow. 


CHAPTER XII. 


W E spend our years as a tale that is told,” said King 
David. 

These words recur to me again and again as I 
review ten years, of which the story lies chronicled in the 
pages of my journal. Year followed year; chapter succeeded 
chapter; steadily, imperceptibly time was passing away. 

The shade of sadness cast on my mind by retrospect of this 
kind was dispelled by thoughts full of gratitude to God, for 
the welfare and happiness of my beloved family during so long 
a period. I had cause especially to rejoice in seeing our sons 
advance to manhood, strengthened by early training for lives 
of usefulness and activity wherever their lot might fall. 

And my great wish is that young people who read this 
record of our lives and adventures should learn from it how 
admirably suited is the peaceful, industrious, and pious life 
of a cheerful, united family to the formation of strong, pure, 
and manly character. None, take a better place in the great 
national family, none are happier or more beloved than those 
who go forth from such homes to fulfill new duties and to 
gather fresh interests around them. 

Rockburg and Falconhurst continued to be our winter and 
summer headquarters, and improvements were added which 
made them more and more convenient, as well as attractive 
in appearance. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


87 


The fountains, trellised verandas, and plantations round 
Rockburg completely changed the character of the residence 
which, on account of the heat and want of vegetation had 
in early days been so distasteful to my wife. Flowering 
creepers overhung the balconies and pillars, while shrubs 
and trees, both native and European, grew luxuriantly in 
groves of our planting. 

In the distance Shark Island, now clothed with graceful 
palms, guarded the entrance to Safety Bay, the battery and 
flagstaff prominently visible on its crested rock. 

The swamp, cleared and drained, was now a considerable 
lake, with just marsh and reeds enough beyond it to form 
good cover for the waterfowl, whose favorite retreat was it. 

Beneath the spreading trees and through the aromatic 
shrubberies old Hurry, the ostrich, was usually to be seen 
marching about, with grave and dignified pace, as though 
monarch of all he surveyed. Every variety of beautiful 
pigeons nested in the rocks and dovecotes, their soft cooing 
and glossy plumage making them favorite household pets. 

By the bridge alone could Rockburg be approached; for 
higher up the river, where, near the cascade, it was fordable, 
a dense and impenetrable thicket of orange and lemon trees, 
Indian figs, prickly pears, and all manner of thorn-bearing 
shrubs, planted by us, now formed a complete barrier. 

The rabbit warren on Shark Island kept us well supplied 
with food, as well as soft and useful fur; and, as the antelopes 
did not thrive on Whale Isle, they also were placed among 
the shady groves with the rabbits, and their own island 
devoted to such work as candle-making, tanning, wool-clean- 
ing, and any other needful but offensive operations. The 
farm at Woodlands flourished, and our flocks and herds sup- 
plied us with mutton, beef, and veal, while my wife’s dairy 
was almost more than she could manage. 

Excellent health had been enjoyed by us all during these 


88 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


ten years, though my wife occasionally suffered from slight 
attacks of fever, and the boys sometimes met with little acci- 
dents. 

They were all fine, handsome fellows. Fritz, now twenty- 
four, was of moderate height, uncommonly strong, active, 
muscular, and high-spirted. Ernest, two years younger, 
was tall and slight, in disposition, mild, calm, and studious. 
His early faults of indolence and selfishness were almost 
entirely overcome. He possessed refined tastes and great 
intellectual power. Jack, at twenty, strongly resembled 
Fritz, being about his height, though more lightly built, and 
remarkable rather for active grace and agility than for muscu- 
lar strength. Franz, a lively youth of seventeen, had some 
of the qualities of each of his brothers. He possessed wit 
and shrewdness, but not the arch drollery of Jack. All were 
honorable, God-fearing young men, dutiful and affectionate 
to their mother and myself, and warmly attached to each 
other. 

Although so many years had elapsed in total seclusion, it 
continued to be my firm impression that we should one day 
be restored to the society of our fellow men. 

But time, which was bringing our sons to manhood, was 
also carrying their parents onward to old age. Anxious, 
gloomy thoughts relating to their future, should they be left 
indeed alone, sometimes oppressed my heart. On such 
occasions I would not communicate the sense of depression 
to my family, but turning in prayer to the Almighty Father, 
laid my trouble before Him, with never-failing renewal of 
strength and hope. 

Fritz had been absent one whole day from Rockburg, and 
not until evening did we remark that his cajack was gone 
and that he must be out to sea. Anxious to see him return 
before nightfall I went off to Shark Island with Ernest and 
Jack in order to look out for him from the watch tower there. 
At the same time we hoisted our signal flag, and loaded the gun. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


89 


When he at length appeared, I remarked that his skifF 
sailed at a slower rate than usual toward the shore. The 
cannon was fired to let him know that his approach was 
observed. Then we joyfully hurried back to receive him at 
the harbor. 

It was easy to see, as he drew near, what had delayed his 
progress. The cajack towed a large sack, besides being 
heavily laden. 

“Welcome, Fritz!” I cried. “Welcome back, wherever 
you come from, and whatever you bring. You seem to have 
quite a cargo there!” 

‘‘Yes, and my trip has led to discoveries as well as booty,” 
answered he; “interesting discoveries which will tempt us 
again in the same direction. Come boys let’s carry up the 
things, and while I rest I will relate my adventures.” 

“You have discovered treasure, indeed!” I exclaimed; 
“why, these are most beautiful pearls! Valueless, certainly, 
under present circumstances; but they may prove a source 
of wealth, should we ever again come into contact with the 
civilized world. We must visit your pearl-oyster beds at the 
earliest opportunity. 

Next morning Fritz drew me aside and confided to me a 
most remarkable story in these words: 

“There was something very extraordinary about an alba- 
tross I knocked over yesterday, father. I raised it to the 
deck of the canoe, and then perceived a piece of rag wound 
round one of its legs. This I removed, and, to my utter 
astonishment, saw English words written on it, which I 
plainly made out to be — ‘Save an unfortunate Englishwoman 
from the smoking rock!’ 

“This little sentence sent a thrill through every nerve. 
My brain seemed to whirl. I felt stupefied for some minutes. 
The bird began to show signs of life, which recalled me to 
myself. Quickly deciding what must be done, I tore a strip 


90 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


from my handkerchief, on which I traced the words — ‘Do 
not despair! Help is near!’ ” 

“This I carefully bound round one leg, replacing the rag 
on the other, and then applied myself to the restoration of the 
bird. It gradually revived. After drinking a little, it sur- 
prised me by suddenly rising on the wing, faltering a moment 
in its flight, and then rapidly disappearing from my view in a 
westerly direction. 

“Now, father, one thought occupies me continually. Will 
my note ever reach this English woman ? Shall I be able to 
find and to save her ?” 

I listened to this account with feelings of the liveliest 
interest and astonishment. 

“My dear son,” said I, “you have done wisely in con- 
fiding to me alone your most exciting discovery. Unless 
we know more, we must not unsettle the others by speaking 
of it. It appears to me quite possible that these words were 
penned long ago on some distant shore, where, by this time, 
the unhappy stranger may have perished miserably. By the 
‘smoking rock’ must be meant a volcano. There are none 
here,” 

Fritz was not disposed to look at the case from this gloomy 
point of view. He did not think the rag so very old. He 
believed smoke might rise from a rock which was not vol- 
canic. Evidently he cherished the hope that he might be able 
to respond effectually to this touching appeal. 

After earnest consultation on the subject, we decided that 
Fritz should go in search of the writer of the message, but 
not until he had so altered the canoe as to fit it for carrying 
two persons, as well as provisions sufficient to admit of his 
absence for a considerable time. 

An excursion to Pearl Bay was now the event to which all 
thoughts turned, and for which preparations on a grand 
scale were made. It was due to form, at it were, the basis 
of the more important voyage Fritz had in view, and to which. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


91 


unsuspected by the rest, he could devote all his attention. 

I took an opportunity, one day, when all were present, to 
remark in a serious tone: 

‘‘I have been considering, dear wife, that our eldest son is 
now of an age to be dependent on himself. I shall, therefore, 
henceforth leave him at liberty to act in all respects accord- 
ing. to his own judgment. Especially in the matter of voy- 
ages or excursions, he must not be hampered by the fear of 
alarming us should be choose to remain absent longer than 
we expect. I have such entire confidence in his prudence, 
and at the same time in his affection for us that I am certain 
he will never needlessly cause us anxiety.’’ 

Fritz looked gratefully toward me as I spoke. His mother 
ratified my words, embracing him affectionately, and saying 
with emotion, ‘‘God bless and preserve thee, my boy! ” 

It took some time to make several raking or scraping 
machines, which I invented for the purpose of detaching and 
lifting the pearl-oysters from their native rocks. That gave 
Fritz leisure to change the fittings of his canoe so as to have a 
spare seat in it. 

“You must pilot us through the channel in the reef, Fritz,” 
said I on the morning that we started; adding, in a lower tone, 
“and then it is to be ‘farewell,’ my son!” 

“Yes, dear father — Au revoir!” returned he, brightly, with 
a glance full of meaning, while he threw into his canoe a 
cushion and a fur cloak. Then, springing into his skiff, he 
led the way toward the open sea. 

We followed carefully, and soon passed the reef. Fritz 
turned in the opposite direction, and quickly vanished 
behind the point, which I afterwards named Cape Farewell. 

When missed by his brothers, I said he had a fancy to 
explore more of the coast, and if he found it interesting he 
might, instead of only a few hours, remain absent for two or 
three days. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

F ive days passed, but Fritz still remained aEsent. I 
could not conceal my anxiety, and at length deter- 
mined to follow him. All were delighted at the pro- 
posal. Even mother, when she heard that we were to sail 
in the yacht, agreed to accompany us. 

The boat was stored, and on a bright morning, with a 
favorable breeze, we five, with the dogs, stepped aboard, and 
ran for Cape Minister. 

Our beautiful little yacht bounded over the water gaily. 
The bright sunshine and delicious sea breeze put us all in the 
highest spirits. The boys were about to raise a joyful shout, 
but checked the shout upon their very lips; for darting behind 
a rock they suddenly espied a canoe paddled by a tall and 
muscular savage, who now stood up in his skiff and appeared 
to be examining us attentively. Seeing that we were standing 
toward him, the swarthy native seized his paddle and again 
darted behind a rock. An awful thought now took posses- 
sion of me. There must be a tribe of blacks lurking on these 
shores, and Fritz must have fallen into their hands. I deter- 
mined, however, that should we not be easily taken. Our 
guns were loaded and run out. 

Presently a dusky face appeared, peeping at us from a lofty 
rock. It vanished, and we saw another peeping at us from 
lower down. Then, again, the skiff put out as though to 
92 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


93 


make a further reconnoitre. All, even Jack, looked anxious, 
and glanced at me for orders. 

“Hoist a white flag,” said I, “and hand me the speaking- 
trumpet.” 

I seized the instrument and uttered such peaceable words 
in the Malay language as I could recall. Neither the flag 
nor my words seemed to produce any effect. The savage 
was about to return to the shore. 

Jack hereupon lost patience, and in his turn took up the 
trumpet. “ Come here, you black son of a gun,” he exclaimed. 
“Come on board and make friends, or we’ll blow you and 
your — ” 

“Stop! stop! you foolish boy,” I said; “you will but alarm 
the man, with your wild words and gestures.” 

“No! but see,,” he cried, “he is paddling toward us!” 
And sure enough the canoe was rapidly approaching. 

Presently a cry from Franz alarmed me. “Look! Look!” 
he shrieked, “the villain is in Fritz’s cajack. I can see the 
walrus head.” 

Ernest alone remained unmoved. He took the speak- 
ing-trumpet: “Fritz, ahoy!” he shouted; “welcome, old 
fellow!” 

The words were scarcely out of his mouth when I, too, 
recognized the well-known face beneath its dusky dis- 
guise. 

In another minute the brave boy was on board, and in 
spite of his blackened face was kissed and welcomed heartily. 
He was now assailed with a storm of questions from all 
sides: “Where had he been?” “What had kept him so 
long, and why had he turned blackamoor ?” 

“The last question,” replied he, with a smile, “is the 
only one I will now answer. The others shall be explained 
when I give a full account of my adventures. Hearing 
guns fired, my mind was instantly filled with the ideas of 


94 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


Malay pirates. I never dreamed that you could be here 
in the yacht, so I disguised myself as you now see me, and 
came forth to reconnoitre. When you addressed me in 
Malay you only added to my terror, for it left not a doubt 
in my mind that you were pirates.’’ 

Having in our turn described to him our adventures, I 
asked him if he knew of a suitable spot for the anchorage 
of the yacht. 

“Certainly,” he replied, casting toward me a glance 
full of meaning; “I can lead you to an island where there 
is a splendid anchorage, and which is itself worth seeing, 
for it contains all sorts of strange things.” After remov- 
ing the stains from his skin, and turning himself once more 
into a civilized being, he again sprang into his canoe and 
piloted us to a picturesque little island in the bay. 

Now that there could be no doubt as to the success of 
Fritz’s expedition, I no longer hesitated to give my wife a 
private account of this project, and to prepare her mind 
for the surprise which awaited her. She was greatly startled, 
as I expected, and seemed almost overcome with the emo- 
tion at the idea of seeing a human being, and that being 
one of her own sex. 

The boys could not at all understand the evident air of 
mystery and suppressed excitement which neither their 
mother, Fritz, nor I could entirely conceal. They cast 
glances of the greatest curiosity toward the island. As 
soon as the sails were furled and the anchor dropped, they 
sprang eagerly ashore. In a body we followed Fritz, main- 
taining perfect silence. Presently we emerged from the 
thicket through which we were passing, and saw before us 
a hut of sheltering boughs, at the entrance of which burned 
a cneerful fire. 

Into this leafy bower Fritz dived, leaving his brothers 
without, mute with astonishment. In another moment 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


95 


he emerged, leading by the hand a slight handsome youth, 
by his dress apparently a young English naval officer. The 
pair advanced to meet us. Fritz, with a countenance 
radiant with joy, briefly introduced his companion as Ed- 
ward Montrose. 

“And,” he continued, looking at his mother and me, 
“will you not welcome him as a friend and a brother to our 
family circle ?” 

“That will we, indeed!” I exclaimed, advancing and 
holding out my hands to the fair young stranger. “Our 
wild life may have roughened our looks and manners, but 
it has not hardened our hearts, I trust.” 

The mother, too, embraced the seeming youth most 
heartily. The lads, and even the dogs, were not behind- 
hand in testifying their gratification at the appearance of 
their new friend — the former delighted at the idea of a fresh 
companion, and the latter won by her sweet voice and ap- 
pearance. 

From the expression made use of by Fritz I perceived 
that the girl wished to remain unrevealed to the rest of the 
party until the mother could obtain for her a costume more 
suited to her real character. 

The mere fact of meeting with any human being after so 
many years of isolation was in itself sufficient to raise the 
boys to the greatest state of excitement. That this being 
should be one so handsome, so gay, so perfectly charming, 
seemed completely to have turned their heads. When our 
new friend had retired for the night, and silence had been 
restored. Jack exclaimed: 

“Now, then, Fritz, if you please, just tell me where you 
came across this jolly fellow. Did you take your mys- 
terious voyage in search of him, or did you meet him by 
chance ? Out with your adventures, while we sit com- 
fortably round the fire.” 


96 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


Jack cast more wood upon the blazing pile, and threw 
himself down in his usual careless fashion, prepared to lis- 
ten attentively. 

Fritz, after a few moments’ hesitation, began: 

‘‘Perhaps you remember,” said he, “how, when I re- 
turned from my expedition in the cajack the other day, I 
struck down an albatross. None but my father at the, 
time knew, however, what had became of the wounded bird 
or even thought more about it. Yet it was that albatross 
who brought me notice of the shipwrecked stranger, and 
he, too, I determined should carry back a message to cheer 
and encourage the sender. 

“I first, as you know, prepared my cajack to carry two 
persons. Then, with a heart full of hope and trust, I left 
you and the yacht, and made for the open sea. For several 
hours I paddled steadily on, till, the wind freshening, I 
thought it advisable to keep in nearer shore; that, should 
should a regular storm arise, I might find some sheltered 
bay in which to weather it. 

“A high point of land lay before me. I rounded it, and 
beyond found a calm and pleasant bay, from whose curved 
and thickly wooded shores ran out a reef of rocks. From 
the point of this reef rose a column of smoke, steadily and 
clearly curling upward in the calm air. I could scarcely 
believe my senses. I stopped gazing at it, as though I were 
in a dream. Then, with a throbbing pulse and giddy brain, 
I seized my paddle, and strained every nerve to reach it. 

“A few strokes seemed to carry me across the bay. After 
securing my canoe, I leaped upon the rock, on which the 
beacon was blazing, but not a sign of a human being could 
I see. I was about to shout. As the fire had evidently 
been recently piled up, I knew the stranger could not be far 
off. Before I could do so, I saw a slight figure passing 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


97 


along the chain of rocks toward the spot on which I stood. 
You may all imagine my sensations. 

“I advanced a few paces, and then mastering my emo- 
tion as best I could, I said in English: 

“‘Welcome, fair stranger! God, in His mercy, has heard 
your call, and has sent me to your aid!’"’ 

“Miss Montrose came quickly forward ’’ 

‘‘ Who .? What shouted the boys, interrupting the nar- 
rative; ‘‘who came forward.?’’ and amid a general hubbub, 
Ernest, rising and advancing to his brother, said in his 
quiet way, “ I did not like to make any remark till you 
actually let out the secret, Fritz, but we need no longer 
pretend not to see through the disguise of Edward Mont- 
rose.” 

Fritz, though much disconcerted by the discovery of the 
secret, recovered his self-possession. After bearing with 
perfect equanimity the jokes with which his brothers 
assailed him, he joined in three cheers for their new sister. 
When the confusion and laughter which ensued had sub- 
sided, he continued his story: 

“Miss Montrose grasped my hands warmly. Guessing 
from my pronunciation, I am afraid, that I was not in the 
habit of speaking English every day of my life, she said in 
French: 

“‘Long, long, have I waited since the bird returned with 
your message. Thank God, you have come at last!” 

“Then with tears of joy and gratitude, she led me to the 
shore, where she had built a hut and a safe sleeping-place, 
like Falconhurst on a small scale, among the branches of a 
tree. I was delighted with all she showed me. Her 
hut and its fittings evinced no ordinary skill and ingenuity. 
Round the walls hung bows, arrows, lances, and bird- 
snares. On her work-table, in boxes and cases, carved 
skillfully with a knife, were fish-hooks of mother-of-pearl. 


98 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


needles made from fish-bones, and bodkins from the beaks 
of birds, fishing-lines of all sorts, and knives and other 
tools. These latter she told me were, with a chest of wear- 
ing apparel, almost the only things washed ashore after 
the wreck, when three years ago she was cast alone upon 
this desolate coast. I wondered more and more at the 
wonderful way in which this girl had surmounted obstacles. 

“The hut itself was a marvel of skill. Stout posts had 
been driven into the ground, with cross pieces of bamboo, 
to form a framework. The walls had been woven with 
reeds, the roof thatched with palm-leaves, and the whole 
plastered smoothly with clay, an open space being left in 
the centre of the roof for a chimney to carry off the smoke 
of the fire. 

“She told me she was the daughter of a British officer, 
who had served for many years in India, where she her- 
self was born. At the early age of three years she lost her 
mother. 

“After the death of his wife, all the colonel’s love and 
care was centered upon his only child. Under his eye she 
was instructed. From him she imbibed an ardent love of 
field sports. By the time she was seventeen, she was as 
much at home upon her horse in the field as in her father’s 
drawing-room. Colonel Montrose now received orders to 
return home with his regiment. As she did not wish to ac- 
company him in the ship with the troops, he obtained a pas- 
sage for her on board a vessel which was about to sail at the 
same time. 

“The separation was extremely painful to both the old 
soldier and his daughter, but there was no alternative. 
They parted, and Miss Montrose sailed in the Dorcas for 
England. A week after she had left Calcutta, a storm 
arose, and drove the vessel far out of her course. More 
bad weather ensued. At length, leaks having been sprung 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


99 


in all directions, the crew were obliged to take to the boats. 
Jenny obtained a place in one of the largest of these. After 
enduring the perils of the sea for many days, land was sighted. 
The other boats having disappeared, an attempt was made 
to land. The boat was capsized, and Miss Montrose 
alone reached the shore. For a long time she lay upon the 
sand almost inanimate. Reviving sufficiently to move, she 
at length obtained some shell-fish, and by degrees recov- 
ered her strength. From that time forth until I appeared 
she never set eyes upon a human being. To attract any 
passing vessel, and obtain assistance, however, she kept a 
beacon continually blazing at the end of the reef. With 
the same purpose in view, she attached missives to the feet 
of any birds she could snare alive. 

‘‘We should have reached Rockburg this evening, had 
not an accident occurred to our skiff and compelled us to 
put in at this island. The boat was scarcely repaired when 
I heard your first shots. I instantly disguised myself. 
Never doubting that Malay pirates were near, I came forth 
to reconnoitre. Glad, indeed, I was to find my fears un- 
grounded.’’ 

Next morning, as we assembled for breakfast, I took the 
opportunity of begging Miss Montrose no longer to attempt 
to continue her disguise, but to allow us to address her in 
her real character. 

Jenny smiled. She had noticed, as the young men met 
her when she came from the cabin, a great alteration in 
their manner. She had guessed at once that her secret 
was guessed. 

“After all,” she said, “I need not be ashamed of this 
attire. It has been my only costume for the last three 
years, and in any other I should have been unable to manage 
all the work which during that time has been necessary.” 

All was now bustle and activity. Breakfast over, we 

Lora 


100 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


went aboard the yacht. Fritz and Jack stepped into the 
canoe; and we soon left Fair Isle and Pearl Bay far be- 
hind. 

The morning was delightful. The sea, excepting for 
the slight ripple raised by the gentle breeze wafting us 
homeward, was perfectly calm. Slowly and contentedly 
we glided along through the wonders of a splendid natural 
archway, threaded our passage among the rocks and shoals, 
and passed out to the open sea. Nautilus Bay and Cape 
Pug-Nose were in due time passed, and Shark Island hove 
in sight. With great astonishment Jenny gazed at our 
watch-tower, with its guard-house, the fierce-looking guns, 
and the waving flag upon the heights. We landed, that 
she might visit the fortification. We displayed all our ar- 
rangements with great pride. On reaching home, a grand 
salute of twelve shots welcomed us and our fair guest to 
Rockburg. 

Fritz and Jack, who had preceded the yacht in their ca- 
jack, stood ready to receive us on the quay. With true 
politeness they handed their mother and Jenny ashore. 
They turned and led the way to the house through the gar- 
dens, orchards, and shrubberies which lay on the rising 
ground that sloped gently upward to our dwelling. 

Jenny’s surprise was changed to wonder as she neared 
the villa itself — its broad, shady balcony, its fountains 
sparkling in the sun, the dovecotes, the pigeons wheeling 
above, and the bright, fresh creepers twined round the 
columns, delighted her. She could scarcely believe that 
she was still far from any civilized nation, and that she was 
among a family wrecked like herself upon a lonely coast. 

Splendid pineapples, oranges, guavas, apples, and pears 
resting on cool green leaves, lay heaped in pyramids upon 
the porcelain dishes. A haunch of venison, cold fowl, ham, 
and tongues occupied the end and sides of the table. In 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


101 


the centre rose a vase of gay flowers, surrounded by bowls 
of milk and great jugs of mead. It was, indeed, a perfect 
feast, and the heartiness of the welcome brought tears of 
joy into the lovely eyes of the fair girl in whose honor it had 
been devised. 

When the banquet was over, and the waiters had satis- 
fied their appetites, they joined their brothers, and with 
them displayed all the wonders of Rockburg to their new 
sister. To the house, cave, stables, gardens, fields, and 
boat-houses, to one after the other did they lead her. 

On the following day, after an early breakfast, we started, 
while it was yet cool, for Falconhurst. As I knew that re- 
pairs and arrangements for the coming winter would be 
necessary, and would detain us for several days, we took 
with us a supply of tools, as well as baskets of provisions, 
and other things essential to our comfort. 

Many a shower wetted us through during these days, 
and we had scarcely time to hurry back to Rockburg and 
house our cattle and possessions before the annual deluge 
began. 

Never before had this dreary season seemed so short 
and pleasant. With Jenny among us the usual feeling 
of weariness and discontent never appeared. The Eng- 
lish language was quickly acquired by all hands. Fritz, 
in particular, spoke it so well that Jenny declared she could 
scarcely believe he was not an Englishman. She herself 
already spoke French, and therefore easily learned our 
native language and spoke it fluently before we were re- 
leased from our captivity, 


CHAPTER XIV. 


T his winter was a truly happy time. At length the 
rain ceased and the bright sun again smiled upon 
the face of nature. We could scarcely believe, as 
we stepped forth and once more felt the balmy breath of 
spring, that, for so many weeks, we had been prisoners 
within our rocky walls. 

All was once more activity and life. The duties in field, 
garden, and orchard called forth the energy of the lads, 
while their mother and sister found abundant occupation 
in the poultry yard and house. Our various settlements 
and stations required attention. Falconhurst, Woodlands, 
Prospect Hill, Shark and Whale Islands were in turn visited 
and set in order. The duty of attending to the island bat- 
tery fell to Jack and Franz. 

They had been busy all day repairing the flagstaff, re- 
hoisting the flag, and cleaning and putting into working 
order the two guns. Evening was drawing on, and our 
day’s work over. The rest of us were strolling up and down 
upon the beach, enjoying the cool sea breeze. They loaded 
and ran out their guns, and paddling off with an empty 
tub in the cajack, placed it out at sea as a mark for prac- 
tice. They returned and fired, and the barrel flew in 
pieces, and then, with a shout of triumph, they cleaned 
the guns and ran them in. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


103 


Scarcely had they done so when, as though m answer to 
their shots, came the sound of three guns booming across 
the water from westward. 

A tumult of feelings rushed over us — anxiety, joy, hope, 
doubt, each in turn took possession of our minds. Was it 
a European vessel close upon our shores, and were we about 
to be linked once more to civilized life ? Or did those 
sounds proceed from a Malay pirate, who would rob and 
murder us! 

Before we could express these thoughts in words the 
cajack had touched the shore, and Jack and Franz were 
among us. ‘‘Did you hear them.? Did you hear them.?’’ 
they gasped. “What shall we do.? Where shall we go.?” 

“Oh, Fritz,” continued my youngest son, “it must be a 
European ship. We shall find her. We shall see our 
Fatherland once more,” and in an emotion of joy he grasped 
his brother’s hands. Till then I knew not what a craving 
for civilized life had been aroused in the two young men by 
the appearance of their European sister. 

Few slept that night. The boys and I took it in turn to 
keep watch from the veranda, lest more signals might be 
fired, or a hostile visit might be paid us. But about mid- 
night the wind began to rise, and before we reassembled to 
discuss our plans a fearful storm was raging. So terrible 
was the sea that I knew no boat could live. For two days 
and two nights the hurricane continued, but on the third 
day the sun again appeared, and the wind lulling, the sea 
went rapidly down. 

Fritz and I at once prepared to make a reconnoissance. 
We armed ourselves with our guns, pistols, and cutlasses, 
took a spyglass, seated ourselves in the cajack, and with a 
parting entreaty from the mother to be cautious, paddled 
out of the bay and round the high cliffs on our left. For 
nearly an hour we advanced in the direction from which 


104 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


the reports of the guns seemed -to proceed. Nothing could 
we see, however, but the frowning rocks and cliffs, and the 
waves beating restlessly at their base. Cape Pug-Nose was 
reached, and we began to round the bluff old point. In a 
moment all our doubts were dispelled, and joy and grati- 
tude to the Great Giver of all good filled our hearts. There, 
in the little sheltered cove beyond the cape, her sails furled 
and anchor dropped, lay a brig-of-war with the English 
colors at her masthead. 

Still keeping under the shelter of the cliff, I carefully 
surveyed the vessel, and my fears were once more dispelled. 
All was neatness and regularity on board. The spotless 
decks, the burnished steel and brass, and the air of perfect 
order which prevailed both ship and camp, betokened that 
authority and discipline reigned there. Satisfied by the ap- 
pearance of a camp on shore that there was no chance of 
the brig quitting the coast for several days, we resolved to 
return without betraying our presence. 1 was unwilling to 
appear before these strangers until we could do so in a man- 
ner more in accordance with our actual resources. 

At the break of that eventful morn when we were des- 
tined to once more set our eyes upon our fellowmen and 
to hear news of the outer world, the anchor was weighed, 
the sails set, and, with the canoe in tow, the yacht, as though 
partaking of our hopes and joyous expectation, bounded 
merrily over the waters of Safety Bay, gave a wide berth to 
the Reef, and kept away for the cove, where the English ship 
unconsciously awaited us. The pug-nosed cape was reached 
and, to the surprise and utter amazement of the strangers, 
we rounded the point, and brought up within hail. Every 
eye on board and on shore was turned toward us, every 
glass was produced and fixed upon our motions. 

Fritz and I stepped into our boat and pulled for the brig. 
In another minute we were upon her deck. The captain. 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


105 


with the simple frankness of a British seaman, welcomed 
us cordially. After leading us into his cabin, he begged us 
to explain to what good fortune he owed a visit from resi- 
dents upon a coast generally deemed uninhabited, or the 
abode of the fiercest savages. 

I gave him an outline of the history of the wreck, and of 
our sojourn upon these shores. I spoke to him, too, of 
Miss Montrose, and of the providential way in which we 
had been the means of rescuing her from her lonely position. 

“Then,” said the gallant officer, rising and grasping 
Fritz by the hand, “let me heartily thank you in my own 
name, and in that of Colonel Montrose. It was the hope of 
finding some trace of that brave girl that led me to these 
shores. The disappearance of the Dorcas has been a ter- 
rible blow to the Colonel. Yet though for three years no 
word of her or of any of those who sailed in her has reached 
England, he has never entirely abandoned all hope of again 
hearing of his daughter. I knew this, and a few weeks ago, 
when I was about to leave Sydney for the Cape, I found 
three men who declared themselves survivors of the Dorcas 
and said that their boat of four which left the wreck, was 
the only one which, to their knowledge, reached the land in 
safety. From them I learned all particulars, and applying 
for permission to cruise in these latitudes, I sailed in hopes 
of finding further traces of the unfortunate crew. My 
efforts have been rewarded by unlooked-for success.” 

One of the officers was now dispatched to the yacht with 
a polite message, and the mother, Jenny, and the boys were 
presently on board. 

Our kind host greeted them most warmly, and he and his 
officers vied with each another in doing us honor. They 
proved indeed most pleasant entertainers, and the time 
passed rapidly away. At luncheon the captain told us that 
there had sailed with him from Sydney an invalid gentle- 


106 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


man, Mr. Wolston, his wife, and two daughters; but that, 
though the sea voyage had been recommended on account 
of his health, yet it had not done Mr. Wolston so much good 
as had been anticipated, and he had suffered so greatly from 
the effects of the storm which had driven the U tiicorn into 
the Bay for repairs, that he had been eager to rest for a 
short time on land. 

We were anxious to meet the family, and in the afternoon 
it was decided that we should pay them a visit. Tents had 
been pitched under the shady trees, and when we landed we 
found Mr. Wolston seated by one of them, enjoying the cool 
sea breeze. He and his family were delighted to see us. 
So much did we enjoy their society that evening found us 
still upon the shore. It was too late then to return to Rock- 
burg, and the captain kindly offered tents for those who 
could not find room in the yacht. The boys spent the night 
on land. 

That night I had a long and serious consultation with my 
wife, as to whether or not we really had any well-grounded 
reason for wishing to return to Europe. It would be child- 
ish to undertake a voyage thither simply because an op- 
portunity offered for doing so. 

My dear wife assured me that she desired nothing more 
earnestly than to spend the rest of her days in a place to 
which she had become so much attached, provided I, and 
at least two of her sons, also wished to remain. 

From the other two she would willingly part, if they chose 
to return to Europe, with the understanding that they must 
endeavor to send out emigrants of a good class to join us, 
and form a prosperous colony. She added that she thought 
the island ought to continue to bear the name of our na- 
tive country, even if inhabited in future time by colonists 
from England, as well as from Switzerland. I heartily 
approved of this excellent idea, and we agreed to mention 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


107 


it, while consulting with Captain Littlestone on the subject 
of placing the island under the protection of Great Britain. 

After breakfast it was proposed that Captain Little- 
stone should bring his ship round to Safety Bay, that we 
might receive a visit from him and his party at Rockburg — 
where we invited the invalid, Mr. Wolston, and his family, 
in hopes that his health might benefit by a comfortable 
residence on shore. 

No sooner was this plan adopted, than Fritz and Jack 
hurried oflF in the canoe to prepare for their reception. 
They were followed in more leisurely style by the brig and 
our yacht. 

But what words can express the amazement of our guests, 
when, rounding the Rocky Cape at the entrance. Safety 
Bay, the beautiful domain of Rockburg lay before them. 
Still greater was their astonishment, as a salute of eleven 
guns boomed from the battery on Shark Island, where the 
royal standard of England was displayed and floated majesti- 
cally on the morning breeze. 

A glow of surprise and pleasure beamed on every counte- 
nance. Poor Wolston’s spirits appeared to revive with the 
very idea of peace and happiness to be enjoyed in such a 
home. In the event of his ultimately deciding to settle 
altogether among us, Mr. Wolston proposed that his son 
should leave the Cape and join our colony. 

With sincere satisfaction I welcomed this proposal, say- 
ing that it was my wish and that of my wife to remain for 
the rest of our days in New Switzerland. 

“New Switzerland forever!’’ shouted the whole company 
enthusiastically. 

“Long life and happiness to those who make New Switzer- 
land their home!” added Ernest, to my great surprise. 

“Won’t somebody wish long life and prosperity to those 
who go away.?” inquired Jenny, with a pretty, arch look. 


108 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


‘^Much as I long to return to England and my father, my 
inclination will waver if all the cheers are for New Switzer- 
land!’’ ' _ _ 

“Three cheers for England and Colonel Montrose,” 
cried Fritz; “success and happiness to those who return to 
Europe!” While the vaulted roofs rang with the cheering 
elicited by this toast, a glance from Jenny showed him how 
much she thanked him for appreciating her wish to return 
to her father, notwithstanding her attachment to our family. 

“Well,” said I, when silence was restored, “since Fritz 
resolves to go to England, he must undertake for me the 
duty of bringing happiness to a mourning father by restor- 
ing to him this dear daughter, whom I have been ready to 
regard as my own by right of her being cast on the shores 
of my island. Ernest chooses to remain with me. His 
mother and I rejoice heartily in this decision, and promise 
him all the highest scientific appointments in our power to 
bestow. And now what is Jack’s choice The only talent 
I can say he possesses is that of a comic actor, and to shine 
on the stage he must needs go to Europe.” 

“Jack is not going to Europe, however,” was his reply. 
“He means to stay here. When Fritz is gone he will be the 
best rider and the best shot in New Switzerland, which is 
the summit of his ambition.” 

“A good school is exactly what I want,” said Franz. 
“Among a number of students there is some emulation and 
enthusiasm, and I shall have a chance of rising in the world. 
Fritz will probably return here some day; but it might be 
well for one member of the family to go home altogether. 
As I am the youngest I could more easily than the rest adapt 
myself to a different life. My father, however, will decide 
for me.” 

“You may go, my dear son,” I replied; “and God bless 
all our plans and resolutions. The whole earth is the 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


109 


Lord’s, and where, as in His sight, you lead good and use- 
ful lives, there is your home.” 

V Deep emotion stirred every heart as the party separated 
for the night. Many felt that they were suddenly stand- 
ing on the threshold of a new life. As for myself, a weight 
was rolled from my heart, and I thanked God that a diffi- 
culty was solved which, for years, had oppressed me with 
anxiety. 

! Captain Littlestone allowed as much time as he could 
spare. It was necessarily short, so that incessant move- 
ment and industry pervaded the settlement for several days. 
Everything was provided and packed up that could in any 
way add to our children’s comfort on the voyage, or benefit 
them after their arrival in England. A large share of my 
possessions in pearls, corals, furs, spices, and other valu- 
ables were added to enable them to take a good position in 
the world of commerce. 

Fritz had previously made known to me, what indeed 
was very evident, the attachment between himself and 
Jenny. I advised him to mention it to Colonel Montrose 
as soon as possible after being introduced to him, and ask 
for his sanction to their engagement. I, on my part, 
gladly bestowed mine, as did his mother, who loved the 
sweet girl dearly, and heartily grieved to part with her. 

On the evening before our separation, I gave to Fritz the 
journal in which, ever since the shipwreck, I had chronicled 
the events of our life, desiring that the story might be printed 
and published. 

“It was written, as you well know,” said I, “for the in- 
struction and amusement of my children, but it is very pos- 
sible that it may be useful to other young people, more 
especially to boys. Children are, on the whole, very much 
alike everywhere, and you four lads fairly represent multi- 
tudes who are growing up in all directions. It will make 


110 


THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 


me happy to think that my simple narrative may lead to 
some of these to observe how blessed are the results of 
patient continuance in well doing, what benefits arise from 
the thoughtful application of knowledge and science, and 
how good and pleasant a thing it is when brethren dwell 
together in unity, under the eye of parental love.” 

Night has closed around me. For the last time my 
united family slumbers beneath my care. 

To-morrow this closing chapter of my journal will pass 
into the hands of my eldest son. 

From afar I great thee, Europe! I greet thee, dear old 
Switzerland 1 

Like thee, may New Switzerland flourish and prosper — 
good, happy, and free! 


THE END. 



1 




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